U.S (Color Of Change) : This Black mother had two children stolen by CPS.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear friend,

 

 

 

  

Syesha Mercado is a young Black mother who has had not one but TWO children stolen by the family policing system known as CPS. It’s simply unacceptable. 

 

In February 2021, Syesha took her then 13 month old son Amen’Ra Sba to John Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida for a simple consultation. Syesha and her partner Tyrone were facing some difficulty getting Amen’Ra to consume adequate amounts of fluids as they were in the process of transitioning the infant to solid foods.¹  

 

The hospital requested to keep an eye on Amen’Ra over a period of days, but after the family allegedly denied a B12 shot for their son, Syesha was informed that the Manatee Child Protective Services would take custody as a result. Law enforcement claimed that the B-12 shot was a matter of life and death, when in reality it’s not.² The Pinellas County Police then forced Syesha and Tyrone to leave the hospital while threatening them with trespassing charges.³ Amen’Ra was initially placed with a foster family without interview of qualified family members to take custody, but was later moved to a caretaker closer to the family. 

 

In August, Syesha gave birth to her daughter Ast. Just 10 days after she was born, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office removed her from her parents’ care during a surprise welfare check while they were driving home.⁴ The family was not warned and received zero explanation. Video of the traumatic event was circulated widely on social media, and after public outcry Ast was returned to her parents.⁵ However, it’s been more than SIX months and Amen’Ra is still not home with his loving family. 

 

 

 

That’s why we’re calling on Florida CPS Secretary Shevaun Harris to intervene. Secretary Harris has the power to put a stop to this family separation and ensure Amen’Ra is reunited NOW. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SIGN THE PETITION

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amen’Ra was assessed by Dr. Sally Smith who was previously investigated for diagnosing child abuse too quickly.⁶ In a statement to Newsweek Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital stated that Sally Smith isn’t even an employee of the hospital, rather she’s associated with the child protection team and Pinellas County.⁷ As head of the Pinellas County child protection team, USA Today uncovered more than a dozen instances where cases initiated by Smith were dropped, parents were later acquitted, or caregivers had credible claims of innocence.⁸ Nevertheless, families like Syesha’s have suffered irreparable harm and damage to their livelihoods and reputations based on Smith’s allegations. 

 

Let’s be clear : CPS is the police. The family policing system was designed to destroy Black families, and has historical roots in slavery, especially reinforcing reproductive control inflicted on Black mothers and pregnant people. Black and Native American children are more likely to be removed and placed in foster homes.⁹ Black kids only make up 20% of the child population but 30% of kids in foster care with poverty being the highest determining factor.¹⁰ Syesha and Tyrone are not alone -- Amen’Ra accounts for just one child of the nearly 25,000 children that have flooded the Florida CPS system as of 2019.¹¹

 

Black families are suffering at the hands of the family policing system. Getting Amen’Ra home is just the first step. Join us as we demand CPS Secretary Shevaun Harris puts an end to this family's nightmare. 

 

Florida is putting police intervention over family wellness. About six years ago, Florida Governor Rick Scott signed a bill into law that prioritized “child safety” at all costs instead of keeping families together.¹² As a result, there’s been a severe uptick in foster care cases where kids aren’t being housed properly, or are reporting abuse in foster care households with no alternate solutions in place. ¹³

 

Bottom line : We must put an end to the latest iteration of violence being inflicted on Black families, and instead prioritize our safety and wellbeing. It starts with ensuring Amen’Ra is returned home to parents. 

 

 

 

 

 

SYESHA AND TYRONE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO WAIT ANOTHER DAY.

TELL CPS SECRETARY SHEVAUN HARRIS: BRING AMEN'RA HOME

 

 

 

 

 

Until justice is real, 

 

 

 

 

Erika, Rashad, Arisha, Scott, Malachi, Megan, Madison, Ernie, Palika, Trevor, Ariel, Kristiana, Ana, McKayla, Erick, and the rest of the Color Of Change team. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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References : 

 

 

 

 

 

1. "Syesha Mercado's Battle For Her Children : Timeline of Events." NewsWeek. https://act.colorofchange.org/go/324814?t=8&akid=52176%2E1942551%2EWxng-H
2. Bring Amen'Ra Home to his Parents and drop Dependency Case. Syesha Mercado Petition. https://act.colorofchange.org/go/324815?t=10&akid=52176%2E1942551%2EWxng-H
   
3. Ibid. 
4. "American Idol's Syesha Mercado Reunited with Baby Daughter amid Custody Battle : 'Ast Is Home'." People.com https://act.colorofchange.org/go/324816?t=12&akid=52176%2E1942551%2EWxng-H
5. Ibid. 
6. "Bad medicine." USA Today. https://act.colorofchange.org/go/324817?t=14&akid=52176%2E1942551%2EWxng-H
7. "Syesha Mercado's Battle For Her Children : Timeline of Events." NewsWeek. https://act.colorofchange.org/go/324814?t=16&akid=52176%2E1942551%2EWxng-H
8. Ibid. 
9. "Florida blames mothers when men batter them – then takes away their children."USA Today.   https://act.colorofchange.org/go/324818?t=18&akid=52176%2E1942551%2EWxng-H
10. Ibid. 
11. Ibid. 
12. "Florida's unique approach to child abuse cases." WTSP. https://act.colorofchange.org/go/324819?t=20&akid=52176%2E1942551%2EWxng-H
13. Ibid.

  

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ColorOfChange is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change.