The internet exploded with fury after the parents of 3-year-old soccer superstar Nevada Pierre claimed on Instagram that someone called the police on their son during a youth league match because he was too talented. The video shows Nevada skillfully dribbling the ball and scoring, before cutting to the preschool prodigy looking at the cops with confusion. Now, body camera recordings have shed light on what took place during the viral incident at Martin Luther King Jr.
Park in Winter Park, Fla., on Saturday. According to a statement from the Winter Park Police Department, officers were contacted by a soccer league official requesting a response to a disturbance between the parents of a player and league staff. In the body camera recordings released Monday, the league official tells the officers that Nevada’s parents are “creating a big scene, arguing with the other parents” and says “I just want them out immediately.” The league official also says the little boy is playing much better than the other players and pushing them, which concerned him.
Videos shared by Nevada’s parents on Instagram show the precocious dynamo masterfully weaving between taller players and delivering powerful kicks driving the ball into the goal. When the officers approach Nevada’s mother, Martasia Griffin, she says she is upset because she saw parents huddled together talking about her son. She says she doesn’t believe he should be penalized for being good.
The officers reply that they have no control over that and relay the league’s request that the parents leave the park, which they do. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who has represented the families of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Trayvon Martin, weighed in Monday on social media, saying, “If this child was punished for excelling, what message does that send to every young athlete?” Some on social media speculated that there was racial motivation behind the incident, as Nevada is Black and several kids he was playing against were white. The body camera recordings show that the league official who spoke with police is also Black.
Early childhood educator and child welfare activist Ms Rachel highlighted the encounter on her Instagram, calling what took place “racist, sick, traumatizing and disgusting” and inviting Nevada to come on her show and showcase his skills. Reels of his astonishing skills routinely receive millions of views, and his fame has only risen in the wake of the viral police encounter. On Monday, Nevada’s mother started a fundraiser to cover registration fees, training, equipment, uniforms and travel expenses for him to continue developing his talent in a “more supportive setting.” Within 24 hours, the GoFundMe had raised $35,000.
The company, i9 Sports, did not immediately respond to The Times’ request for comment. A spokesperson told the Orlando Sentinel that the organization reached out to Nevada’s family and was reviewing the incident.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
