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Activists push for change after 2 incidents involving Black female students, school resource officers

A panel of activists met Tuesday to talk about the issues facing Black and brown children in Florida schools.

Activists are calling it a surge of violence against Black girls. Some said students feel like they’re in danger at school.

READ: Video shows new perspective of takedown of Liberty High student by school resource officer

Speakers touched on two local confrontations. The first one took place in January at Liberty High School in Osceola County, when investigators said a school resource deputy tried to stop a fight from happening and body-slammed a girl to the ground.

Less than a week later, a school resource deputy used a stun gun on a teenager at Eustis High School. As in the Osceola County incident, the deputy said he wanted to stop a fight.

READ: FDLE asking for the publics help with their investigation into an Osceola SRO’s use-of-force on student captured on video

The activists said there are other ways to deal with these issues other than sending the girls involved to jail.

The panel argued that students should get civil citations before arrests, and want to work on a plan to educate parents on what options there are for their kids other than jail.

READ: Civil rights attorneys join family in call for justice after teen body-slammed by school officer

Shannon Butler

Shannon Butler, WFTV.com

Shannon joined the Eyewitness News team in 2013.

Sarah Wilson

Sarah Wilson, WFTV.com

Sarah Wilson joined WFTV Channel 9 in 2018 as a digital producer after working as an award-winning newspaper reporter for nearly a decade in various communities across Central Florida.

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