Oumou Kanoute had the police called on her because she is black and appeared to be out of place while sitting down and eating a sandwich in a common area at the school she is currently attending.
Kanoute, who is working at Smith College as a teaching assistant and residential adviser, was in tears as she spoke to local media about the incident.
The student said she was simply eating and reading a book when the police arrived and questioned her.
In a post and video on Facebook, she explained: “I did nothing wrong, I wasn’t making any noise or bothering anyone. All I did was be black.”
Smith College said the unnamed employee has been placed on leave and also released a transcript of the conversation with the authorities: “I was just walking through here in the front foyer of [REDACTED], and we have a person sitting there laying down in the living room area over here. I didn’t approach her or anything but um he seems to be out of place … umm … I don’t see anybody in the building at this point and uh I don’t know what he’s doing in there just laying on the couch.”
Smith College President Kathleen McCartney said the matter is being investigated.
Kanoute explains she wants the name of the person who called 911 and demands an apology for the way she was treated.
