
A Black mother said her 11-year-old son was chased and injured by California State Fair officers during the fair’s Kids Day last month, which she believes was racially motivated.
At a news conference held Monday, Cynthia Martin said her son and his friends were “horse playing” outside of a roller coaster at the fair, competing to be first in line. Afterward, police chased injured the boy, and questioned him for more than 30 minutes. She said the officers forced her son to sign a no-trespassing agreement without a parent present.
Martin reportedly said her son suffered multiple injuries to his body, including a bloodied nose.
Civil rights attorney Mark Merin has reportedly filed a tort claim, a precursor to a federal civil lawsuit against California State Fair.
The incident happened on July 19, and it is not the first time police have been accused of racism and using excessive force at the State Fair. In 2017, police were accused of racially profiling and injuring Black people during separate encounters.
More about the latest incident can be found here.