#ReadingWhileBlack: Mom outraged after 11-year-old son ‘traumatized’ by police at library
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A Wisconsin mother is looking for answers after her 11-year-old son was thrown in the back of a police car after officers were called to a Madison library because a group of teens were reportedly talking too loudly.
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Jalisa Johnson told Channel 3000 that her son enjoys going to the library, but on Monday when she picked him up, he shared a disturbing experience.
Tana Elias, digital services and marketing manager, said an incident occurred after two young people were swearing and using “bad language.”
“We finally asked them to leave. They refused to leave,” Elias said.
And that’s when the Madison Police Department was called.
According to the outlet, five minors were issued citations for infractions like disorderly conduct, trespass after notification and resisting.
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Johnson was told her son was involved in a fight with an officer, something she denies. He was issued a citation and says the whole incident doesn’t sit well with him.
“Now he’s traumatized by it and doesn’t want to leave home at all,” Johnson said.
“I don’t understand the whole reason for (any) of this, and to me, I just feel like it was just a whole lot to do for an 11-year-old child. He’s a child.”
Some of the children were meeting in a room with the Northside Planning Council, a nonprofit community development organization. They released a statement about the matter.
“We recognize that regardless of the specifics of this incident, it falls within the broader context of the way communities of color are policed, with outcomes that are counter to our mission of fostering equity and improving the quality of life on the Northside,” said Abha Thakkar, executive director of the Northside Planning Council.
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