Louisiana 4th grader suspended for having a BB gun in a virtual classroom
28th September 2020 · 0 Comments
By Fritz Esker
Contributing Writer
Woodmere Elementary 4th grade student KaMauri Harrison was suspended from school for six days for briefly handling a BB gun in his bedroom during a virtual class.
On September 11, WVUE reported that KaMauri Harrison was taking a test in his bedroom when his brother entered and tripped over a BB gun on the floor. KaMauri picked up the gun and placed it next to his seat.
KaMauri’s father, Nyron Harrison, told WWL a portion of the gun could be seen on screen for a second.
WVUE reported that the paperwork from KaMauri’s expulsion hearing indicated the teacher’s account of the event matched the 4th grader’s story.
The Jefferson Parish School System’s policy states “Illegal carrying, possession or use of a firearm or dangerous weapon within the boundaries of school property or on a school bus is a crime under the laws of the State of Louisiana.”
Chelsea Brener Cusimano, the Harrison family attorney, told WVUE that the school system’s policies are “robotic in nature” regarding guns on campus.
“They went into this school year without any policy or procedure on how to handle the privacy of someone’s own home,” Cusimano said to WVUE.
The Louisiana Department of Education School Behavior Report filed by Harrison’s teacher stated “KaMauri presented an (sic) weapon that appeared to be a rifle/shotgun during his Google Meets classroom session. This is violation of weapons in the classroom setting (sic) and a violation of internet usage policy. He will be recommend (sic) for expulsion as per JPPSS policy.”
Nyron Harrison told WWL he was worried about this incident remaining on his son’s permanent school record.
“This outcome is going to follow him through the rest of his life…and that’s what’s not allowing me to accept their decision,” said Nyron Harrison to WWL.
Cusimano told WWL the incident was “grossly mishandled” by the Jefferson Parish School System. She said if the school system does not agree to remove the suspension from KaMauri’s record, they will consider filing a lawsuit.
“This is a privacy issue,” Cusimano told WVUE. “Not only is this a due process issue and a breach of contract issue and an intentional infliction on emotional distress on a nine-year-old issue, it’s a second amendment right to bear arms issue.”
According to WWL, Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry said he would launch an investigation into whether Harrison’s suspension was a violation of the state and federal constitutions. Landry called it “blatant government overreach by the school system.”
“For anyone to conclude that a student’s home is now school property because of connectivity through video conferencing is absurd,” Landry said to WWL. “It is ludicrous for this all-American kid to be punished for taking responsible actions just as it is for his parents to be accused of neglect.”
Dillard University President Walter Kimbrough told the Associated Press that Jefferson Parish Superintendent James Gray should reconsider KaMauri Harrison’s suspension. Kimbrough said the punishment was excessive and another example of the over criminalization of African-American boys.
The AP reported that Gray stands by the punishment.
This case in Louisiana is similar to other incidents involving “weapons” and online learning during the pandemic. Earlier this month, a seventh grade Colorado student was suspended for picking up a neon-green toy gun. Another student in New Jersey was also suspended for playing with a nerf gun.
This article originally published in the September 28, 2020 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.
