If Steve Jobs were a black girl from Florida, he might have died unknown and in a prison cell rather than as one of the most famous business entrepreneurs the world has ever known.
According to Mistakes Kids Make, Jobs intentionally set off an explosive device under his third grade teacher’s desk. He was never charged with a crime. On April 23, 2013, a sixteen-year-old, Kiera Wilmont, was charged with two felony counts for what her classmates have called “a science experiment gone bad.” The principal has said he doesn’t believe she meant to harm anyone. She caused an explosion which resulted in no property damage or injuries.
Yet the school district is supporting bringing criminal charges against Kiera claiming:
In order to maintain a safe and orderly learning environment, we simply must uphold our code of conduct rules. We urge our parents to join us in conveying the message that there are consequences to actions. We will not compromise the safety and security of our students and staff.
I am reminded of that quote “all that is required for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing.” Or to quote the rule book as they do criminally stupid things. Numerous studies demonstrate that charging children as adults, involving children in the juvenile injustice system is extremely damaging often causing irreparable harm. If there is another way to address the harm caused by a young person, then we should do that. And in this case its hard to even find a harm at all. Yet, as journalist Davey D. points out, the out of control school district and police response is far from unusual but rather part of long history of the criminalization of Black people in Florida [and elsewhere] through ‘zero tolerance’ policies in schools and in the community.
The prosecutor and the judge should refuse to bring and/or hear this case. In Georgia, Judge Steven Teske has done exactly that with these kinds of cases, i.e. thrown them out.
In the meantime, we can help make sure this case gets dropped. If you have an i-phone or any other phone use it and call the school district and the police and tell them to drop this foolishness.
Thanks to Davey D. and Rania Khalek for the contact info below and their posts on this subject:
Bartow High School Principal Ronald Pritchard / Address: 1270 S Broadway Ave Bartow, FL 33830 / EMAIL: Ronald.Pritchard@polk-fl.net PHONE:(863)- 534-7400 Fax: (863)534-0077
Polk County Superintendent: Dr. John Stewart /Address: 1915 South Floral Avenue, Bartow, FL 33831 Phone: (863) 534-0521 Fax: (863) 519-8231 Email: Dr. John Stewart
Bartow Police Department:
PHONE: 863.534.5034
FAX: 863.534.5030
lbryan.pd@cityofbartow.net.
And sign the Change.org petition for kiera wilmont:
Like Steve Jobs, Kiera Wilmont deserves to make a mistake and not have it ruin the rest of her life.