*The video of Richland County, SC police officer Ben Fields slamming a Spring Valley High School student to the floor and dragging her in front of her classmates has triggered a slew of reactions around the country.
For Jill Scott, Fields’ actions were “too much” as she weighed in on what happened from the perspective of someone who was a part of the educational system.
“I was [once] a teacher and I remember their mouths — I know the students have a whole day to sit down and think of something negative to say, but you’re supposed to be the adult,” the singer told The Huffington Post. “You’re supposed to be able to take a breath and walk away, and still do your job. This is violence. He swung that child around like he hated her. And that’s too much.”
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As she examined the situation further, Scott questioned if Fields’ reaction to the situation with the student was of a reoccurring issue within Spring Valley High.
“The way that the students and the teacher were so lackadaisical about the whole thing. Nobody screamed, nobody stood up,” she said. “It looks like something that’s been going on in that school for a long time.”
Scott’s comments come days after the Spring Valley High video surfaced on Monday (Oct. 26). Although she feels a certain way about the steps Fields took against the student, there are those who question if his physical actions were justified.
The incident with the student is the latest in a string of occurrences that have resulted In past lawsuits and allegations of excessive force throughout his career in law enforcement, according to various reports.
On Wednesday (Oct. 28), Fields was terminated from the Richland County police force, the Post reports.
With tension involving police relations in America, Scott offered a to improve the situation while trying a more thorough way of recruiting new officers.
“I think there has to be a test. Just like you have to learn how to hold and to use your weapon — I think police officers need to learn how to use their minds and hearts,” she said. “These are people, and I think their fear may overwhelm them and whatever residual feelings they have from childhood or whatever.”
RELATED: Heated Sunny Hostin Rips Don Lemon for ‘Needing More Facts’ in Spring Valley Arrest (Watch)
To help in the process, Scott suggested a series of “physiological examinations” for those with dreams of a career in law enforcement.
“I think there needs to be physiological examinations before you can become a police officer, examinations about your past and lie detector tests. It’s easy for any of us to end up in somebody’s prison, and I’d like it to be a lot harder for police officers to become police officers,” she stated.
In addition to Scott, Cher put herself among the folks commenting on the Spring Valley High video. The following is her reaction, which she posted on Twitter on Monday evening (Oct. 26):
Teen girl in classrm thrown around like rag doll.Every1 on TV saying“we can’t see what she did b4 video”Who gives a flying Fk‼️She’s a CHILD
— Cher (@cher) October 27, 2015
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