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White students 'cut off' black girl's dreadlocks in Virginia | White students 'cut off' black girl's dreadlocks in Virginia |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A 12-year-old African-American girl has accused three white classmates of pinning her down and cutting off her dreadlocks with scissors. | A 12-year-old African-American girl has accused three white classmates of pinning her down and cutting off her dreadlocks with scissors. |
Amari Allen says the assault happened during break time at her private school in Springfield, Virginia on Monday. | Amari Allen says the assault happened during break time at her private school in Springfield, Virginia on Monday. |
She alleges that the boys held her down on a slide and called her hair "ugly" and "nappy" and cut some off. | She alleges that the boys held her down on a slide and called her hair "ugly" and "nappy" and cut some off. |
The alleged attack took place at the Immanuel Christian School, where the US Vice-President's wife teaches. | The alleged attack took place at the Immanuel Christian School, where the US Vice-President's wife teaches. |
The school and local police both confirmed they were investigating the incident. | |
"The boys came up to me and they ambushed me sort of, like caged me in," Ms Allen told local media. | "The boys came up to me and they ambushed me sort of, like caged me in," Ms Allen told local media. |
"And so they put their hands over my mouth. They put my hands behind my back and they started cutting my hair and told me that I was ugly." | "And so they put their hands over my mouth. They put my hands behind my back and they started cutting my hair and told me that I was ugly." |
"They like took my lunch and ate it in front of me and told me I didn't deserve it, that I could just starve and stuff like that," Ms Allen added. | "They like took my lunch and ate it in front of me and told me I didn't deserve it, that I could just starve and stuff like that," Ms Allen added. |
The family say the incident only came to light on Wednesday when her grandmother noticed her hair was suddenly different lengths. | The family say the incident only came to light on Wednesday when her grandmother noticed her hair was suddenly different lengths. |
"It's very painful," Cynthia Allen told a local CBS affiliate. "I want to see them dismissed from the school. I want to see something done." | "It's very painful," Cynthia Allen told a local CBS affiliate. "I want to see them dismissed from the school. I want to see something done." |
In a statement, the school said they had asked local police to investigate the incident. | In a statement, the school said they had asked local police to investigate the incident. |
"We take seriously the emotional and physical well-being of all our students, and have a zero-tolerance policy for any kind of bullying or abuse," Immanuel Christian School said in a statement. | "We take seriously the emotional and physical well-being of all our students, and have a zero-tolerance policy for any kind of bullying or abuse," Immanuel Christian School said in a statement. |
"We are deeply disturbed by the allegations being made, and are in communication with the family of the alleged victim to gather information and provide whatever support we can." | "We are deeply disturbed by the allegations being made, and are in communication with the family of the alleged victim to gather information and provide whatever support we can." |
The school, which costs Ms Allen's family almost $12,000 (£9,800) a year, is where Karen Pence - the wife of Vice-President Mike Pence - teaches art part-time. | The school, which costs Ms Allen's family almost $12,000 (£9,800) a year, is where Karen Pence - the wife of Vice-President Mike Pence - teaches art part-time. |
She resumed working at the school earlier this year, amid scrutiny over its anti-LGBT requirements of staff. | She resumed working at the school earlier this year, amid scrutiny over its anti-LGBT requirements of staff. |