Republican Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey has attributed the incident, where a Black female student assaulted a white female student after school and off the premises, to the race-based policies of the school district. In a viral video, the assault was captured, leading to widespread condemnation.
Several media outlets have reported that on March 8, a disturbing video surfaced showing an incident involving Kaylee Gain, a 16-year-old girl. In the video, a Black female is seen violently attacking Gain, repeatedly slamming her head onto the concrete in an unincorporated area near Hazelwood East High School in St. Louis County. The assault left Gain with severe injuries, including a skull fracture, brain bleeding, and other serious wounds. As a result of this shocking incident, government officials and various individuals are calling for the assailant to be charged as an adult.
St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell, a Democratic candidate for the 1st District Congressional District, expressed his distress and sorrow over the incident, stating, “This is sickening and so difficult to watch.” He shared a video from the account Libs of TikTok on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. However, Bell later deleted his post. He further explained that, according to Missouri law, his office does not have jurisdiction over the case as it involves a juvenile court matter. The decision to certify the case is also not within their authority. Bell concluded by expressing his hope for the victim’s complete recovery and emphasized how heartbroken he was by the incident.
Bailey, a candidate for his party’s nomination for attorney general, expressed his concerns in a letter to the school district. He stated that the lack of law enforcement, specifically student resource officers, during the assault can be directly attributed to Hazelwood’s focus on race-based policies rather than ensuring basic student safety.
Bailey’s letter contained an inaccurate date and time for the assault. According to media reports, the school district and police did not disclose the race of the students involved or whether race played a role in the incident.
Bailey criticized the school district for disregarding Missouri law when it implemented a policy of “State of Solidarity.” This policy aims to condemn racism, discrimination, and senseless violence targeting individuals based on their race, ethnicity, nationality, immigration status, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or ability.
In his letter, Bailey expressed his concerns about the district’s policy, stating that it unfairly treated and categorized students based on their race.
In a letter, Bailey emphasized that the Missouri Human Rights Act ensures that all residents of Missouri have the right to be free from discrimination and the right to fully enjoy public places. The letter also highlighted that the Missouri Attorney General’s Office has the authority to enforce the Act in cases where there is reasonable cause to believe a violation has occurred, particularly when it involves a matter of public importance.
In the previous month, Bailey wrote letters to four school districts in the St. Louis area, accusing them of engaging in discriminatory practices. The Wentzville School District is currently facing a lawsuit filed by Bailey’s office, citing alleged violations of the state’s sunshine law.
During his tenure as Missouri’s attorney general and campaign for the U.S. Senate, Republican Eric Schmitt initiated several lawsuits against school districts concerning the enforcement of mask-wearing and other medical safety measures amidst the pandemic.
In their “Statement of Solidarity,” Hazelwood acknowledges the tragic deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Rayshard Brooks, emphasizing that any acts of violence targeting African Americans are completely unacceptable.
“This policy emphasizes that racism is not just a concern for Black individuals, but rather a broader issue impacting all Americans. It reminds us that we all share a responsibility to combat the negative effects of racism.”
