In a significant victory for local and Inland Empire pastors and community activists, the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office has dropped all felony charges against 14-year-old Kamela, a Black student who was brutally assaulted at Jehue Middle School in Colton, California. The decision follows a strong push from African American community leaders who rallied behind Kamela, demanding accountability for the violence she endured at the hands of a much larger Latino male student.
While the dropped charges mark a crucial step forward, Kamela remains expelled from school, and community leaders are now focusing on reinstating her as quickly as possible. “She has never been in trouble before, and when you see how small she is—so unprotected—it’s clear why she felt she had to defend herself,” said Pastor Shep Crawford, who organized a contingency of Los Angeles area pastors to respond to the emotionally charged incident.
Despite the severity of the attack, the male student involved is not facing charges, and the school has yet to announce any disciplinary actions against him.
Kamela’s case drew widespread attention after a video of the incident went viral, showing the male student slamming her head onto a desk, knocking her unconscious, as bystanders shouted racial slurs. The incident has sparked outrage over the school’s handling of bullying and racial dynamics, particularly as Black students become a growing minority in some California schools.
Community leaders have also raised concerns about the substitute teacher who was present during the attack but failed to intervene. Eyewitnesses reported that the teacher, despite being able-bodied, made no effort to stop the assault, raising questions about the school’s responsibility in ensuring student safety. Calls for further investigation into the teacher’s inaction continue.
Crawford reported that Inland Empire pastors were taking the lead with the goal of getting the 14-year-old back into school as soon as possible.
“The full victory is going to be making sure that she gets everything that she needs for medical expenses and healing,” Crawford said.
Kamela’s family has launched a GoFundMe campaign titled “Help Kamela Heal and Fight for Justice!” to cover medical expenses, legal fees, and emotional recovery. According to her mother, Christal, Kamela now suffers from a concussion, severe migraines, convulsions, and deep emotional trauma.
“Kamela endured repeated bullying from this male student and was left vulnerable by her school’s inaction. One day, these failings came to a horrifying climax”, her mother wrote. “The teacher was present, yet failed to follow the education code or school policy and did not intervene at all. Fearing for her life, Kamela tried desperately to fight and defend herself as bystanders, and her attacker hurled hateful, racist slurs at her. The attack ended when Kamela was knocked unconscious with a concussion.
“She misses her school, her friends, and the joy of dreaming about her future,” the post continued. “Every dollar brings us closer to securing a future where Kamela can heal, thrive, and achieve her dreams.”
Although the legal battle for Kamela has taken a positive turn, advocates stress that true justice extends beyond dropped charges. Their focus now is on ensuring her return to school, securing proper medical care, and pushing for systemic changes to protect other vulnerable students from similar attacks.
“The fight isn’t over,” Crawford emphasized. “What’s concerning about this is that it is happening more and more in schools where Black students are now the minorities and so often the target of bullies. We just have to make sure that we’re showing up for them as much as possible, to let them know that there is a community that is there to support them.”
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