Current Events > Outrage in Jamaica after police cut Rastafarian girls' dreadlocks

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https://face2faceafrica.com/article/outrage-as-rasta-teen-says-police-in-jamaica-cut-off-her-dreadlocks

The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has come under intense scrutiny after a female police officer on the force allegedly cut the dreadlocks of a Rastafarian teenager who was in their custody. The officer reportedly claimed she cut off the teenagers dreadlocks because she thought her natural hairstyle posed a suicide risk.

The incident, which was strongly condemned by the teenagers parents and attorney, reawakened memories of the deadly 1963 clash between Rastafarians and the Caribbean nations police force, The Gleaner reported.

In an interview with the news outlet, 19-year-old Nzinga King said she was arrested by officers in the Jamaican parish of Clarendon on July 22 following a confrontation. The teenager said she was in a taxi when two police officers pulled the driver over and ordered a male passenger to alight from the vehicle. After the male occupant ignored their orders, she said one of the officers sprayed pepper spray into the vehicle, disregarding the other passengers.

A lady was there breastfeeding and the policeman behaved as if he did not care, so I came out (the taxi) and I was angry because you came there to remove one occupant and you pepper-spray the whole car, she recalled.

The teenager said she ended up having to remove her facemask after she was hit by the pepper spray as she could not properly breathe. But she said the officers told her to put it back on and warned that they would charge her for flouting the island nations COVID-19 safety protocols if she did not comply. Things, however, escalated from there and she was processed for court on a disorderly conduct charge.

King was issued a $6,000 fine with a 10-day jail sentence if unable to pay. And because she couldnt pay the fine, she was taken into custody and sent to the Four Paths Police Station in Clarendon where she had her dreadlocks cut though she was against it, she said. King told The Gleaner she was left humiliated as a Rastafarian after she lost her dreadlocks..

The teenager also said the incident brought back harrowing memories of when she was gang-raped at the age of 16. I have been suffering from a recent trauma. Ive been traumatized and this now, shes just bring me back to some memories of being sexually abused and now I am being physically and mentally abused, King said.

Meanwhile, the attorney representing Kings family, Isat Buchanan, said theyre going to file a lawsuit against the state if the family isnt compensated for the aggravated and egregious act. There is no pier in law that could allow a police officer to scalp a Rastafarian, Buchanan said.

Black hair is a symbol of our roots. Many state actors may resent it, but the Constitution says it must be protected. That is all I will say on the issue. As a member of the Rastafarian community, Princess Nzinga was scalped by a woman officer, and no justification in law will suffice, the attorney added.

The Caribbean nations Police Commissioner, Major General Antony Anderson, has also ordered an investigation into the incident.




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That's awful. Dreadlocks take so much time and effort. No reason to do this except to be an asshole.

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brestugo posted...

The teenager also said the incident brought back harrowing memories of when she was gang-raped at the age of 16. I have been suffering from a recent trauma. Ive been traumatized and this now, shes just bring me back to some memories of being sexually abused and now I am being physically and mentally abused, King said.

damn...

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Yea that is fucked up. And the incident that led up to it was stupid too. You don't pepper spray into a car when you only wanted to subdue one person. Those cops were idiots

They had to have used some serious restraints on her to get at that hair.

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Thats terrible

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that's fucked up. she had dope dreads too.

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Wow that story just... gets worse and worse the more you read.

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Cops are bastards everywhere.

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"She is a suicide risk. Let's ruin her self image"

Give a round of appalues for the employee of the year ladies and gentleman.


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