Spring Valley High School Arrest: Hollywood Reacts to “Unacceptable” Violence

Several prominent figures in Hollywood are up in arms about the arrest of a South Carolina high school student, who was ripped from her desk violently by a police officer after allegedly refusing to hand over her phone to a teacher.

The arrest occurred Monday at Spring Valley High School in Columbia. One of the student’s classmates, who videotaped the arrest, told USA Today the girl had her phone out while working on her computer.

The classmate said the teacher asked for her phone, and when the student said no, an administrator was called into the room to take the girl to an administrative office for disciplinary purposes. The classmate explained, “She really didn’t do anything wrong. She said that she had took her phone out, but it was only for a quick second.”

Deputy Ben Fields then was called to facilitate the student’s removal from the class, and the video shows what happened next. Fields since has been placed on administrative leave, pending the results of an investigation.

Olivia Wilde, Cher, Bernie Sanders, Kerry Washington and more have taken to social media to express their shock and disgust, using the hashtag #AssaultatSpringValleyHigh. Read below.

Heart breaking. Ridiculous. #AssaultAtSpringValleyHigh

— kerry washington (@kerrywashington) October 27, 2015

.@nickmullen “A black, teenage girl is being sassy! Help!” David Buffjustice (to biceps): “You ready, boys?” #AssaultAtSpringValleyHigh

— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) October 27, 2015

“You want some of this?” – Ben Fields to an 18-year-old girl in her classroom!! #ToughGuy #ThugAssPunk #AssaultAtSpringValleyHigh

— Jeffrey Wright (@jfreewright) October 27, 2015

1st mention, from a fellow student, it seems, of #NiyaKenny & her actions during #AssaultAtSpringValleyHigh says it. https://t.co/NgShm641Si

— Jeffrey Wright (@jfreewright) October 27, 2015

There is no excuse for violence inside a school. The #AssaultAtSpringValleyHigh is unacceptable—schools should be safe places. -H

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) October 27, 2015

Hopefully the #AssaultAtSpringValleyHigh will be settled in the most appropriate manner. In other news, have a beautiful day. #enjoylife

— Logan Browning (@LoganLaurice) October 27, 2015

i can’t unsee what i just saw. #AssaultAtSpringValleyHigh

— octavia spencer (@octaviaspencer) October 26, 2015

Teen girl in classrm thrown around like rag doll.Every1 on TV saying“we can’t see what she did b4 video”Who gives a flying Fk??She’s a CHILD

— Cher (@cher) October 27, 2015

Disgusting and shameful. https://t.co/XlZQU5Fmd9

— olivia wilde (@oliviawilde) October 26, 2015

Disgusted (but not surprised) by the #AssaultAtSpringValleyHigh. Commence victim blaming in 5-4-3-2…

— Orlando Jones (@TheOrlandoJones) October 26, 2015

Not the first time he’s been accused of something like this. #AssaultAtSpringValleyHigh https://t.co/UtgpixII5y

— Matt McGorry (@MattMcGorry) October 27, 2015

Welcome to the school-to-prison pipeline! This unjust criminalization of our youth has to end. #AssaultatSpringValleyHigh

— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) October 27, 2015