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Letters to the Editor

Letters: Don’t blame student for deputy’s actions

Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott announces that he has fired Deputy Ben Fields.
Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott announces that he has fired Deputy Ben Fields. AP

If Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott really said that the student slammed to the ground by his deputy “bears some responsibility,” he should resign.

Even if the student was refusing to leave the classroom, that is a right of peaceful protest. Even if the student was standing up, and yelling, that would not justify the officer’s actions.

Read more letters on the Spring Valley High School incident

If the sheriff thinks for one second that the student “bears some responsibility,” I would ask him to study the Kent State Massacre.

Franklin Thomas Fomby

Laurens

This story was originally published November 4, 2015 at 1:30 PM with the headline "Letters: Don’t blame student for deputy’s actions."

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