Nearly a month ago, Bianca Clayborne, Deonte Williams, and their five children were on their way from Georgia to Chicago for Clayborne’s uncle’s funeral when a highway patrol officer stopped them in Manchester, Tennessee.

 

That moment – about 60 miles outside Nashville – has since upended their lives as Clayborne and Williams try to regain custody of their children after they say state authorities “kidnapped” them on account of a minuscule amount of marijuana in the car, the Tennessee Lookout first reported.

 

The separation described by Clayborne and Williams fits into a historical pattern of US child welfare services dividing poor, Black and Indigenous families in particular on the grounds of alleged neglect and abuse, fueling disparities in who gets to remain a family and who doesn’t.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/mar/18/police-stopped-a-couple-in-tennessee-then-they-took-their-children-away

 

I suspect we are short of a few facts in this story. Specifically, the criminal history of the parents and their demeanour during their stop for bad driving, driving an illegal vehicle and possession of narcotics. It is likely this will turn out to be another poor parenting and decision making resulting in losing their kids than a racist system out to persecute blacks for no reason other than malice which is how The Guardian are phrasing this event.

From another source:

 

Black family’s five children forcibly taken by child services after minor traffic stop in Tennessee

 

 

A Georgia couple is fighting to get back the custody of their five children, including a four-month-old baby, after they were forcibly taken by child services following a traffic stop where police allegedly found a gun and marijuana in their possession.

Deonte Williams and Bianca Clayborne were stopped in Tennessee on 17 February for dark tinted windows and “travelling in the left lane while not actively passing”, Tennessee Lookout reported.

Officers searched the couple’s car and found a gun and five grams of marijuana – a misdemeanour under Tennessee state laws.

 

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/crime/georgia-couple-custody-kids-marijuana-b2302712.html

1 hour ago, SunnyinBangrak said:

I suspect we are short of a few facts in this story. Specifically, the criminal history of the parents and their demeanour during their stop for bad driving, driving an illegal vehicle and possession of narcotics. It is likely this will turn out to be another poor parenting and decision making resulting in losing their kids than a racist system out to persecute blacks for no reason other than malice which is how The Guardian are phrasing this event.

Like you rightly say, we are short of a few facts.

 

Which hasn’t stopped you inventing some to fit your world view.

I wish I could say this news shocks me.

 

But it’s just another example of the abuse of authority and power to inflict cruelty.

 

 

Sad indeed but not surprising I wonder how the Tennessee officials are improving the lives of the kids they separated from their parents?

2 hours ago, SunnyinBangrak said:

I suspect we are short of a few facts in this story. Specifically, the criminal history of the parents and their demeanour during their stop for bad driving, driving an illegal vehicle and possession of narcotics. It is likely this will turn out to be another poor parenting and decision making resulting in losing their kids than a racist system out to persecute blacks for no reason other than malice which is how The Guardian are phrasing this event.

Pity its not being carried on Fox news so you could have got all the facts eh:

 

Tennessee Democrats demand release of children removed from Black family after traffic stop

The THP, meanwhile, rejected a public records request for body and dash cam footage of the traffic stop

https://tennesseelookout.com/2023/03/16/tennessee-democratic-caucus-demands-release-of-5-children-removed-from-black-family-after-traffic-stop/

23 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

Pity its not being carried on Fox news so you could have got all the facts eh:

 

Tennessee Democrats demand release of children removed from Black family after traffic stop

The THP, meanwhile, rejected a public records request for body and dash cam footage of the traffic stop

https://tennesseelookout.com/2023/03/16/tennessee-democratic-caucus-demands-release-of-5-children-removed-from-black-family-after-traffic-stop/

Is there concrete evidence this event took place because of skin color and bigotry? Other than for grift and race-baiting purposes is there any reason to state the race of those involved? I wish we could stop this bizarre and misleading identity politics the left are so obsessed by.

 

Judge people on character and actions, not by the color of their skin. 

1 minute ago, SunnyinBangrak said:

Is there concrete evidence this event took place because of skin color and bigotry? Other than for grift and race-baiting purposes is there any reason to state the race of those involved? I wish we could stop this bizarre and misleading identity politics the left are so obsessed by.

 

Judge people on character and actions, not by the color of their skin. 

"Judge people on character and actions, not by the color of their skin."

 

The exact sentiments of the black mother whose 5 children have been taken away from her including a 2 month old breast feeding. 

 

“Give them their children back. It’s borderline discrimination, because if this was any other family, as their attorney said, we don’t even think this would be the outcome,” she said.

In my early years I spent several years working in Child Protective Services.  That was many years ago, but the system was definitely rigged against people of color.  If a judge was contacted for an emergency order to remove children and they were minority-race children, the order was always given.  A lot of times, the paperwork was waived until the next day.  

 

Fortunately, the rules under which we operated were to NEVER remove children unless they were in imminent danger of being harmed.  If there were any family member capable of caring for the children, they were released to them pending a hearing. 

 

CPS is expected to make every effort to keep the family together and out of the foster care system.  Legal problems by the parents are almost never a reason to remove children from custody. 

 

I find it interesting that in the state that I live, children are seldom removed from the custody of white parents.  There is a huge drug problem and children are allowed to remain with their parents right up until the time they are incarcerated.  

 

So, let's contrast this story with how Teresa Giudice, from one of the Real Housewife series, and her husband, Joe.  They were charged with a host of crimes including failing to file taxes, conspiracy, mail fraud, bank fraud and wire fraud.  

 

They were both convicted on 41 charges of fraud and sentenced to prison.  Teresa was sentenced to 15 months in a federal prison; Joe was sentenced to 41 months.  

 

The couple had 4 daughters.   In order to keep the family together, Teresa served her sentence first and Joe took care of the children.  After she served her sentence, he went to prison. 

 

I doubt you will find many cases of minority people being given that kind of treatment.  

 

Those children were in no imminent danger; they had a custodial parent who was not incarcerated or unable to care for them.   They should never have been removed from her without a full custody hearing.  

3 hours ago, metisdead said:

 

Deonte

Def guilty with a name like that.

3 hours ago, metisdead said:

From another source:

 

Black family’s five children forcibly taken by child services after minor traffic stop in Tennessee

 

 

A Georgia couple is fighting to get back the custody of their five children, including a four-month-old baby, after they were forcibly taken by child services following a traffic stop where police allegedly found a gun and marijuana in their possession.

Deonte Williams and Bianca Clayborne were stopped in Tennessee on 17 February for dark tinted windows and “travelling in the left lane while not actively passing”, Tennessee Lookout reported.

Officers searched the couple’s car and found a gun and five grams of marijuana – a misdemeanour under Tennessee state laws.

 

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/crime/georgia-couple-custody-kids-marijuana-b2302712.html

In this article the state said that the hair follicle tests showed the parents testing positive for amphetamines, oxycodone, and fentanyl

"The attorney of the family planned to change the results of the hair follicle tests on the suggestion of experts that the test conducted on the couple is known to generate too many false positives.

However, they were told by child services that it will not be possible to challenge the results as the drug court does not hold onto them."

Something had to have happened to make a simple traffic stop turn into searching the car and a hair follicle test. I would assume anyway.

3 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said:

Something had to have happened to make a simple traffic stop turn into searching the car and a hair follicle test. I would assume anyway.

You should read the links provided, the hair follicle test was a week later, the police refused to give the camera footage of the stop and the reason they claim is because of black tinted windows and being on the wrong side of the road.

18 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

You should read the links provided, the hair follicle test was a week later, the police refused to give the camera footage of the stop and the reason they claim is because of black tinted windows and being on the wrong side of the road.

Not wrong side of road, they were in fast (passing) lane and not passing. Which is stretching things unless they were impeding faster traffic.

27 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said:

Something had to have happened to make a simple traffic stop turn into searching the car and a hair follicle test. I would assume anyway.

Yeh, we got that.

 

 

Just now, EVENKEEL said:

Not wrong side of road, they were in fast (passing) lane and not passing. Which is stretching things unless they were impeding faster traffic.

Ok even better. Shame the police won't release the footage to confirm that.

6 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Which hasn’t stopped you inventing some to fit your world view.

 

6 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

But it’s just another example of the abuse of authority and power to inflict cruelty.

 

 

Touché

3 minutes ago, youreavinalaff said:

 

Touché

French is clearly not your language.

5 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

French is clearly not your language

On the contrary. You have made a clever point at one's expence. Good hit. 

 

Oh. The irony. 555

1 hour ago, Bkk Brian said:

Ok even better. Shame the police won't release the footage to confirm that.

Sure, I agree. 

 

 

Troll post removed.

 

 

18 hours ago, EVENKEEL said:

Something had to have happened to make a simple traffic stop turn into searching the car and a hair follicle test. I would assume anyway.

It doesn't matter what happened or the outcome of a hair follicle test.  The ONLY test they have to pass is that one of the two parents is able to provide care for the children.  

 

Children are not removed for simple drug use and if they were the foster care system would be overrun.  Children are not removed from parents who get a DUI, even if the children are in the car.  

 

Whatever these parents have been up to.  There would be no reason to give an emergency order of removal -- and that's what happened.   They were not in imminent danger. 

19 hours ago, Bkk Brian said:

You should read the links provided, the hair follicle test was a week later, the police refused to give the camera footage of the stop and the reason they claim is because of black tinted windows and being on the wrong side of the road.

so should you.

 

driving in fast lane not the wrong side of the road. oh the irony of you telling someone to read the link. 

 

tinted windows last i checked are illegal at certain levels no ? this is a good point as well the tint. if said windows were tinted quite dark....... how would one know who the occupants are ? 

 

and o lets not just focus on the weed as its alleged right ? same as the gun which no one seems to want to talk about. i know i often carry a gun with me while in the car with 5 children. 

 

would anyone like to comment on why a family with 5 children going to a funeral need to be in possession of a gun and weed ? 

 

 

On 3/19/2023 at 6:27 AM, SunnyinBangrak said:

I suspect we are short of a few facts in this story. Specifically, the criminal history of the parents and their demeanour during their stop for bad driving, driving an illegal vehicle and possession of narcotics. It is likely this will turn out to be another poor parenting and decision making resulting in losing their kids than a racist system out to persecute blacks for no reason other than malice which is how The Guardian are phrasing this event.

I agree with you what you say is fair and reasonable comment and the people attacking you for daring to put a different viewpoint need to assess their attitude, insulting anyone who doesn't agree with them in attempts to shut down free speech is childish in the extreme. .

Just now, stoner said:

so should you.

 

driving in fast lane not the wrong side of the road. oh the irony of you telling someone to read the link. 

 

tinted windows last i checked are illegal at certain levels no ? this is a good point as well the tint. if said windows were tinted quite dark....... how would one know who the occupants are ? 

 

and o lets not just focus on the weed as its alleged right ? same as the gun which no one seems to want to talk about. i know i often carry a gun with me while in the car with 5 children. 

 

would anyone like to comment on why a family with 5 children going to a funeral need to be in possession of a gun and weed ? 

 

 

I did read the links and gave a summary rather than re visit so that the poster could then do what he should have done and actually visit them. I did not say they were on the opposite side of the road I said the wrong side. As for the tinted windows, ask the police that's what they said. The weed and gun are nothing to do with why the car was pulled over.

4 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

The weed and gun are nothing to do with why the car was pulled over.

from the sounds of it the tint and driving are why they were pulled over. the weed and the gun however are the reason for the problem with the children ?

 

what are your thoughts on the parents carrying weed and a gun with their 5 children ? 

Just now, stoner said:

from the sounds of it the tint and driving are why they were pulled over. the weed and the gun however are the reason for the problem with the children ?

 

what are your thoughts on the parents carrying weed and a gun with their 5 children ? 

Its a misdemeanor as the article said and not a reason to have 5 children taken away from them.

Just now, Bkk Brian said:

Its a misdemeanor as the article said and not a reason to have 5 children taken away from them.

i see weed and a  gun in a car with 5 children a little differently. some general assumptions of the character of that kind of human can be clearly drawn regardless of color or any of that. i also notice you are avoiding giving your opinion on the matter. 

 

what do you think of parents in a car with weed and a gun ?  

4 minutes ago, stoner said:

i see weed and a  gun in a car with 5 children a little differently. some general assumptions of the character of that kind of human can be clearly drawn regardless of color or any of that. i also notice you are avoiding giving your opinion on the matter. 

 

what do you think of parents in a car with weed and a gun ?  

Its not about what I think, its about why they took 5 children away from the parents for a misdemeanor and then kept them away a week later after taking a hair follicle test.

 

"An instant hair follicle test performed on the parents at their first court appearance, about a week after the children were taken into custody, was a key element in DCS’ arguments for why the children should remain in DCS custody. However, a Coffee County court administrator, speaking to the Lookout broadly about the county’s instant hair follicle testing, said the tests are “inadmissible” in court."

 

If you have further facts then pleased do share?