Teens Assaulted Deaf Student, Filmed Incident

Atlanta teens face long suspension after assaulting hearing-impaired student at mainstream school.

ATLANTA, Georgia -- An Atlanta mother says a group of high school students who attacked her hearing-impaired daughter could be suspended from the school for one year or one semester.

Mother Kimberly Flournoy says her 18-year-old daughter Jacqueline was recently cold-clocked out of the blue on campus at Maynard Jackson High School.

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“He just turned around and slapped me. I was like, ‘OK, what just happened?’” Jacqueline Flournoy said.

Right before that, another student pulled the 18-year-old’s hair.

A third student recorded the attack, which happened Nov. 30, egging the other two students on.

"I think it was hate. They were just being spiteful and mean. They wanted to make a video about it and go viral,” Jacqueline Flournoy said.

Jacqueline Flournoy says the two brothers and a female student made vulgar comments about her relationship and her speech.

The 18-year-old, who is black, has a white boyfriend. She is also hearing-impaired.

Jacqueline’s mother posted the video on social media to raise awareness about bullying and to make sure the students are punished to the fullest extent.

The attackers were initially suspended for one day and forced to apologize.

"I want them expelled from school,” Kimberly Flournoy said.

The two brothers will face a tribunal Wednesday where they could be removed from the school for one year or one semester, according to the mother.

The girl who recorded the video could face cyber-bullying discipline, Kimberly Flournoy says.

Jacqueline Flournoy wants to turn the incident into something positive. She and her mother have created an anti-bullying campaign.

"It shouldn't be happening. If it is happening, you should speak up to somebody,” Jacqueline Flournoy said.

The 18-year-old says people have to learn to treat others with respect.

Kimberly Flournoy also has a message for the parents of kids who bully.

"Parents, [you] need to talk to your children. I mean, it's bad enough that adults treat each other like this, but for kids to do it, they're learning it from someone,” she said.

Atlanta Public Schools has not yet released a comment about the video.

SOURCE - KFVS

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Deaf Girl Assaulted For Using Sign Language

UK Police release image of woman they want to speak to after Deaf girl was assaulted for using sign language.

MANCHESTER, United Kingdom -- Police have released an image of a woman they would like to speak to in connection with an assault on a Deaf girl.

Police say the teenager was verbally abused and shoved three times in the head and shoulder by the stranger, when she used sign language to try to communicate with her.

The victim was sitting with her friend on the train - which was travelling between Manchester Piccadilly and Stockport - when two women started talking to them.

The girl tried to explain that she was Deaf by using sign language.

However the two women became angry and abusive. They started shouting at the girl, before the victim was shoved three times in the head and shoulder by one of the women.

Now police are trying to trace a woman who is pictured in CCTV footage following the attack, which happened at about 8.25pm on Sunday, January 29.

A British Transport Police spokesman said: “Two women sat next to the teenage victim and her friend. The women started to talk to the victim but the girl tried to tell them she was Deaf using sign language. The women then started to shout at the girls and one of them pushed the victim three times in the head and shoulder."

Anyone with information is asked to contact British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40 or text 61016, quoting 400 of 29/3.

SOURCE - Manchester Evening News

Deaf Man Beaten, Tasered and Choked by Police

California Deaf man beaten, tasered and choked by police for not understanding commands awarded $55,000 settlement.

LOS ANGELES -- PINAC News: After mistaking a Deaf man for a thief, beating him, tasering him and choking him because he was unable to understand their commands, the Hawthorne Police Department in southwest Los Angeles has settled a lawsuit for $55,000. The settlement was approved by the City Council on Tuesday in California.

The Deaf man identified as Jonathan Meister and co-plaintiff Greater Los Angeles Agency on Deafness Inc. will receive the settlement on the basis of civil rights violations under the Federal Americans with Disabilities Act.

Meister was at a friends house in February 2013 gathering items from his vehicle when a neighbor called police thinking he was a car thief, according to NBC Los Angeles.

Although there were four officers that responded to the call, Officers Jeffrey Salmon and Jeffrey Tysl were identified as the aggressors.

Once on scene, they yelled out to Meister and he in return motioned that he was Deaf.

The officers motioned for Meister to come towards them, which he did, but then they grabbed his wrists and placed his hands behind his back – a very uncomfortable position for Meister given the fact that he is Deaf and uses his hands to speak.

The lawsuit, which can be read here, describes how officers Salmon and Tysl got close to Meister and roughed him up. Amidst the miscommunication, Meister ran away from the officers who gave chase, only to catch him, fight with him more and taser him.

The officers pushed Meister up against the wall. Officer Salmon put Meister in a choke hold and subsequently kneed him twice in the abdomen.

Officer Tysl then punched Meister in the face repeatedly.

That was when Salmon shot Meister with a Taser X-26 which brought Meister careening to the ground. Officers kicked and elbowed Meister repeatedly while another officer shocked him a second time with the taser.

After a second choke hold and third Taser shock, Meister lost consciousness.

According to the suit, the officers, “shot taser darts into Mr. Meister, administered a number of painful electric shocks, struck him with fists and feet, and forcibly took him to the ground.”

“They ended up grabbing his arms and turning him around, and if you do that to a deaf person, it’s like gagging them. It would be like if I put my hand over your mouth if you try to tell me something,” says Meister’s lawyer John Burton.

Meister was arrested, taken to the hospital, and then into custody at the county jail, but officials dropped the charges at the jail due to the circumstances.

The suit claims Meister suffered, “extreme physical pain and suffering, humiliation, hardship, anxiety, and indignity, and severe mental and emotional anguish pain.”

Meister is a graduate of the University of Ohio and holds a Masters degree in Architecture. In a recollection of events, Meister’s wrote:

“I didn’t mean to resist — it’s ultimately my responsibility. But, with claustrophobia, logic gets pushed down a bit! I did not mean to resist, only to put space between myself and the officers so I could communicate.”

Per the settlement, the Hawthorne Police Department has pledged to change its communication and use of force policies regarding Deaf civilians. The new policy includes providing qualified interpreters to jailed deaf suspects, a booking video and transcript to describe the arrest process, and a video or TTY phone.

Just a few months ago in Charlotte, NC a Deaf man was shot and killed by a state highway patrol officer. The man lead officers on a brief high speed chase. When the chase came to an end, the Deaf man exited his vehicle charging at the officer on foot who in return fatally shot the man after repeated verbal commands to stop.

The North Carolina Highway Patrol officer has not yet been charged with a crime because the investigation is still pending.

SOURCE

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Deaf Lesbian Couple Recovering & Being Helped

Deaf lesbian couple who were attacked with a bat: 'We're sacred to walk the streets' in California.

DESERT HOT SPRINGS, CA. -- The Deaf lesbian couple who were beaten with a baseball bat in Desert Hot Springs on March 22, have come forward to SDGLN to voice concerns about their safety and to thank the community for their support.

Deanna (Dee), 37, and Cathren (Cat), 30, are recovering from injuries they received on Tuesday when suspect Shaunda Lane allegedly became upset because she didn’t understand the women’s sign language.

Dee and Cat used hand signing to ask Lane to leave their property, but were attacked by Lane with a baseball bat according to a police report.

Lane is currently behind bars facing attempted murder charges. Local police say they are not investigating the case as a hate crime.

Since the attack the women have been trying to get their lives back in order and the community has rallied together to help them. A Go Fund Me account has been set up to help the couple recover financially.

“I really would like to thank the supporters who are my family and Deaf friends, even Deaf teachers, even hearing friends, also hearing families…who already knew who we are, for rest of our lives,” said Dee in the letter to SDGLN.

Both Dee and Cat suffered severe injuries; Dee a broken hand and concussion.

A Good Samaritan who only wishes to be identified as Team Mom has stepped in to help the couple as they recover from shock.

Dee is grateful to Team Mom and her continued support, “Team Mom (has) been checking on us almost every day to see if we (are) doing ok, and bring everything that we need. We love her so much. We thank…GOD every day for her,” wrote Cat.

After the attack, the couple’s apartment was broken into and their cellphones and other items were stolen or vandalized. Dee expressed some of the things that the donations will go toward. She says they are very scared of living in Desert Hot Springs now and they need money to move.

Additionally they need help with, “medical bills which my Medi-Care isn't good; have to transfer from Indiana to…California. Transportations; with no car which during night time is not safe to walk and things were missing at home when it was robbed.”

Team Mom opened up her apartment to the couple after their attack and Dee is very grateful for her kindness.

“Team Mom has made sure that we have food, clothes money etc... we love that there are people like her in the world,” she writes. “Team Mom lives in a small apartment and still took us in for our safety. She does so much to have so little. Thanks Team Mom for accepting us for who we are. I'm honored to have my Team Mom. Many thanks.”

Team Mom is asking for help within the Deaf and LGBT communities to aid these women in getting their lives back in order.

“My city has two Deaf females that were beaten within inches of their life with a baseball bat and robbed,” Team Mom writes to SDGLN. “They don't have anything now! Can you help make them feel beautiful again? Contact the community and a few others you may know. To help support the deaf victims to get back on their feet.”

Dee says they are still anxious about their assailant, and worry about her getting released from jail.

"We are still not feeling safe completely because we heard Shaunda (Lane) is trying to act like she is not guilty for attempted murder," she writes. "Need (to) talk to detective this Monday to make sure she stays in prison with no bail."

Help Deanna and Cathren with donations through their Go Fund Me page HERE.

SOURCE - SDGLN

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Teacher Slaps Deaf Toddler For Wanting Food

Deaf News: Teacher slaps toddler caused Deaf for wanting food in bother’s school in India.

AGRA, India -- A hungry two-and-a-half-year-old boy was allegedly slapped so hard by a teacher for asking for food at his older siblings' school during a mid-day meal service that he has lost his hearing. Doctors have confirmed that the minor has suffered "at least partial loss of hearing" after the incident which took place in Mansukh Pura, Bah, on Wednesday.

The boy, Rajat Singh, had on Wednesday gone to the government school where his three older siblings Rohini Singh, Radha Singh and Rohit Singh study. During the mid-day meal he sought food from teacher Raghuvir Raghuvir, who then slapped the minor as he was "not a part of the school".

"My son has lost his hearing ability in one ear," said Rajat's father Shyamvir Singh, "Rajat is yet to enrol in primary school but he wanted to attend class with his brother and sisters. He was hungry and asked for food, when Raghuvir slapped him hard on the face. The slap caused Rajat's ear to bleed. Later we found out from doctors that he had partially lost his hearing ability."

Rubbishing Shyamvir's claims, the accused teacher, Raghuvir, told TOI: "Shyamvir is not telling the truth. The child was normal till the end of school. The matter was sensationalized after the child reached home."

He said, "I did slap Rajat for wandering around the school ground alone, where stray dogs could have attacked and hurt him. The blame for that would have fallen on me for being negligent."

A written complaint has been received in the matter from Shyamvir Singh and police said they will take the appropriate course of action after conducting a thorough investigation.

SOURCE - TIMESINDIA

Deaf Woman Choked By Homophobic Attacker

Deaf News: Deaf woman punched in face and strangled with her own tie by homophobic attacker in south London.

LONDON, UK -- A Deaf woman has told how she was punched in the face and strangled with her own tie by a homophobic attacker just a few yards from her home in south London.

Helena Martins, 43, who lost her hearing five years ago to Ménière's disease, was cornered by the man as she walked home through Tooting last night.

Moments before, she had removed her cochlea implant, which she relies on to hear, as she approached her house.

The man hit her in the eye and choked her with her polka dot tie, which she believes marked her out as gay, and her implant dropped on the floor. As she fought to protect herself, the man scratched her across her face and levelled more blows at her head.

Mrs Martins, who is trained in taekwondo, eventually managed to kick him in the crotch, prompting him to run away, before she picked up her implant and rushed into her house, where she lives with her wife of three years.

She was today recovering from a swollen eye, as well as cuts and bruises to her face.

Commenting on her ordeal, Mrs Martins, who moved to London from Portugal just over 12 years ago, told the Standard: "I am very shaken. I have no doubt that I was targeted because I was a woman wearing a tie. He was quite fixated on the tie. I am not butch but I wear masculine attire." ...Read The Full Story.

Deaf Elderly Man Brutally Beaten By Police

Traffic stop involving Deaf man under investigation, OHP troopers suspended.

OKLAHOMA CITY -- On Jan. 3, court records claim Pearl Pearson fled the scene of a car accident in south Oklahoma City.

An affidavit claims that when Pearson was pulled over along the S Eastern Ave. exit, just off I-40, he resisted two officers and refused to comply with repeated orders to display his hands.

There was a seven-minute altercation. It does not say whether the officers were aware that he is hearing impaired.

Late Tuesday Pearl’s attorney, Billy Coyle, says “My client is completely innocent of these allegations. We are waiting on the OHP (Oklahoma Highway Patrol) report and we are sorting through the facts of the case. My client is profoundly Deaf and was trying to give officers his specialty license during the stop”.

He says his client, a deaf man, was brutalized at the scene, at the hospital and continued at the jail.

One neighbor said the incident is a misunderstanding by troopers that went too far. “I know they do dangerous jobs and they put their lives on the line, but that is over the top,” Sacia Law said. “It’s completely unacceptable. Seven minutes of just basically beating someone?”

The OHP said our request for an interview has been forwarded to the proper division for consideration.

NewsChannel 4 received a statement Monday evening regarding Pearson’s arrest.

Lt. Brian Orr, with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, said, “We can confirm the arrest and charges were filed for leaving the scene of an accident and resisting arrest. The case went to the Oklahoma County District Attorney and any details of this case will have to come from the DA’s office. We will review the arrest administratively and if it is determined there were violations of department policy, we will take appropriate action.”

NewsChannel 4 learned on Tuesday the two Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers involved, Eric Foster and Kelton Hayes, have been suspended with pay while the investigation into this incident continues.

An OHP spokesman says if the agency determines that there were violations during the arrest, appropriate action will be taken... Read The Full Story.

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Aussie Teen Dodges Jail For Bashing Deaf Man

Western Australia teen dodges jail for bashing Deaf Asian man.

PERTH, Australia -- A teenager has dodged a jail term after pleading guilty to bashing a Deaf man at a Perth train station, but he will face imprisonment if he offends again in the next year, a judge has warned.

Joshua William Bignell, 18, bashed Seow Oh, 28, fracturing his eye socket, in the eastern Perth suburb of Carlisle in June last year.

Bignell bashed and kicked Mr Oh from behind as he was walking to his car parked at the station. Bignell was originally charged with assault occasioning bodily harm but the charge was later upgraded to grievous bodily harm.

On Monday, in the District Court of Western Australia Judge Phillip Eaton handed Bignell a pre-sentence order, subject to three reviews over the next 12 months. Judge Eaton decided not to imprison Bignell immediately because he was young, had a troubled childhood and mental health problems and was "now in a stable situation".

If Bignell committed an offence in the next 12 months, it was likely he'd be sentenced to an immediate term of imprisonment, Judge Eaton warned. "You can just about bank on that," he said.

"If you're going well, I'll allow the order to continue. "If things are falling apart, then I won't hesitate to bring it to an end. "If you fail, Mr Bignell, then the consequences will be grim."

Judge Eaton said the maximum penalty for the offence was 10 years' imprisonment, meaning Bignell was "in the big league" after "fairly relentless offending" in recent years... Read The Full Story.

Related: Vicious Attack on Deaf Man in Australia