A black grandmother demands justice as her 3-year-old granddaughter is allegedly slapped by a white therapist.

Lucretia Johnson, a Black grandmother living in Dothan, Alabama, recently shared a troubling experience involving her three-year-old granddaughter and a white speech therapist named Haley Booker Shay. The incident took place at a local clinic on West Main Street, where Johnson had been taking her granddaughter for speech therapy sessions to address her speech impediment. As a concerned and protective grandmother, Johnson usually stayed with her granddaughter during the sessions. However, on January 25, she stepped out for a brief moment and was horrified to hear her granddaughter screaming in distress. According to Johnson, her granddaughter had been slapped and dragged to the front of the clinic by Shay, leaving her with visible injuries.

Immediately after the incident, Johnson reported it to various authorities, including local officials, government representatives, and the clinic staff. However, she was disappointed to find that no real disciplinary action had been taken against Shay. In her frustration, Johnson raised concerns about the unequal treatment of Black children and the lack of consequences for Shay's actions. She questioned how it was possible for a grown woman to physically harm a young child without facing any charges of abuse. The incident left Johnson feeling outraged and helpless, and she couldn't understand what could have provoked Shay to act in such a violent manner towards her granddaughter.

Civil rights activist Essie Berry also became involved in the case, demanding a federal investigation into the alleged incident. Unfortunately, Johnson has faced further harassment and intimidation since speaking out about her granddaughter's assault. She has had her privacy invaded, her property damaged, and has been subjected to racial slurs and other forms of prejudice. Despite these challenges, Berry has continued to support Johnson, who has been met with dismissals and minimal support from authorities. Even after filing a complaint and speaking with representatives from various organizations, Johnson has been unable to get a satisfactory explanation for Shay's behavior.

Johnson's frustrations only grew when she discovered that legal professionals and the Alabama Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology had found no wrongdoing on Shay's part. She felt that these individuals were using their power and influence to protect Shay and cover up her actions. Berry also shared Johnson's concerns about the lack of accountability for Shay's behavior and questioned the integrity of the legal system in handling the case.

Medical examinations at Dothan Pediatric Clinic PA confirmed that Johnson's granddaughter had sustained injuries to her face, including redness and swelling. The medical staff also noted that the child had informed them about Shay's use of offensive language in addition to the physical assault. Johnson has since found a new speech therapist for her granddaughter, and she has seen improvements in her speech and memory. However, the incident has left a lasting impact on the child, who is currently in counseling to deal with the trauma. Johnson and her counselor constantly remind her that not all people are bad, but the incident still haunts her.

Shay was summoned to court, but she was not arrested or charged with the assault. In fact, she failed to appear for a court hearing, and her attorney entered a plea of not guilty on her behalf. Johnson, along with her lawyer and Berry, has gathered evidence and testimonies from various officials, some of whom have even threatened her with charges. Despite facing numerous obstacles and being told that her case is a waste of time, Johnson remains determined to seek justice for her granddaughter. She hopes that by speaking out and raising awareness, she can bring attention to the racial inequalities and injustices that exist in the American legal system. Johnson and Berry believe that the outcome and response to the incident would have been different if the roles were reversed, and it was a Black woman assaulting a white child. Their fight for justice and equality continues, and they are hopeful that they will see a fair trial in June.

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