Family says attack on 11-year old Nevaeh Thomas was racially motivated

The family of 11-year-old Nevaeh Thomas is demanding answers after her attack by a boy in Georgia.

Nevaeh Thomas attack

Thomas’s family says she is recovering after being brutally attacked Friday evening while playing with her friends near an apartment complex in Shawnee.

The girl’s mother believes the attack was racially motivated because of what a boy said leading up to the attack.

“Her feelings are more hurt because of the act of, the racial act. Not so much of the scaring,” Thomas’ mother, Brandi Stewart told local outlet Fox 4 KC.

The family says an evening play date quickly turned violent

Nevaeh’s mother says a 12-year-old boy walked up to her while playing and called her racial slurs.

Nevaeh Thomas responded by saying, “My black is beautiful.” That’s when the 12-year-old allegedly assaulted her, hitting her in the head with a pole. Nevaeh Thomas was left unconscious on the ground and bleeding.

“She suffered from a concussion. She has stitches inside and outside of her cheek. She lost her tooth,” Stewart said.

Charges

“Hate speech has become the norm. Violence has become the norm. It’s seeped into our children,” Empowerment Temple pastor, Terry Bradshaw said.

“How about showing a little empathy. Regardless of the race of these kids, as a parent, if my child was injured in this manor, I’m not sure how I would handle this,” family attorney, LaRhonna Lassiter Saunder said.

Johnson County District Attorney Steve Howe said the 12-year-old boy is charged with aggravated battery, a felony.

Howe said hate crime charges could be filed in the case, although proceedings in the juvenile system are often handled differently than the adult system.