A startling YouTube video captures the moment a 20-year-old student was escorted out of a historically black college classroom in handcuffs following an argument over an essay.
Wednesday’s TikTok video shows officers handcuffing Leilla Hamoud at Winston-Salem State University following an apparent altercation between the student and Cynthia Villagomez, her professor.
In the footage, Hamoud could be seen sobbing and protesting that the cops were harming her as they forced her arms behind her back over a disputed final paper.
According to WXII reporter Louie Tran, she now faces minor disorderly conduct charges and is due back in court on January 25.
However, many of the 4 million people who have viewed the video doubt if it was truly necessary for officials at the black college in North Carolina to call the police.
Hamoud was observed wailing and sobbing as she claimed the officers were abusing her.
Leilla Hamoud was arrested at Winston-Salem State University for arguing about a paper, as captured in a video that went viral on the Internet.
The kid was escorted out of the classroom by campus police and charged with a misdemeanor of the second degree.
The viral TikTok begins with two officers — one white and the other black — handcuffing Hamoud behind her back as they force her onto a desk.
The sobbing 20-year-old was heard telling the police, “You’re really hurting me,” as her professor denied calling the police on the student.
“I was attempting to de-escalate the situation,” said Villagomez, co-chair of the school’s department of political science, history, and social justice.
But Hamoud says to the professor, ‘I despise you,’ You are the worst instructor in history, and I swear to God that I despise you.
‘You get me dragged out in handcuffs because I won’t apologize?
You began shouting at me and attempted to shame me about my paper. You are an awful teacher.
Hamoud continues, amid sobs, “She’s sitting here claiming she loves black people and whatnot.” “You shouted at me first,”
The class then mimics this sentiment, attempting to defend Hamoud as she is removed from the classroom.
Nonetheless, Villagomez was overheard stating, “I was attempting to apologize.”
Unknown is what led to the arrest, but university spokesperson Haley Gingles said it was a last choice and occurred at least 10 minutes after the dispute began.
From the beginning of the initial disruption until the beginning of the video recording, a significant length of time passed, she said NBC News. Undoubtedly, it was more than 10 minutes.
She also claimed that Villagomez was not the one who called 911 on Hamoud, but rather a nearby professor who overheard the argument.
As she apologized to the kids, the lecturer, Cynthia Villagomez, could be heard saying she attempted to de-escalate the situation.
Hamoud, pictured, revealed in an Instagram Live video that she was arrested because she refused to leave class in order to deliver her final project.
University Chancellor Elwood Robinson also stated in a statement that a nearby WSSU employee called campus police to “calm the situation” after hearing the “major ruckus.”
We aspire to create a community where all faculty, staff, and students feel valued, safe, and respected.
To this aim, we will take prompt and appropriate action against any circumstance that runs counter to our ideals.
Following the viral event, Hamoud decided to offer her side of the story in an Instagram Live video.
She stated that she and her classmates participated in a group project that included a live presentation scheduled for Wednesday. However, just hours before the presentation, Villagomez emailed her and instructed her to rework the written section of the assignment.
Hamoud believed she did not have enough time to revise the essay before the Wednesday presentation, but she attended class nevertheless.
In the video, she remarked, “I’m not going back to redo this essay that took me two weeks and you informed me six hours ago.” And yet, I attended the final presentation with my group since that is what we were required to do.
After a fire alarm temporarily disrupted class, Hamoud reported that Villagomez became irate, telling her she could either repent for not revising the essay or leave the classroom.
In response, Hamoud claimed, she decided to remain in the classroom and complete the presentation, which constituted a significant portion of her grade.
Hamoud reported, “So, bang, she starts yelling at me, telling me this is her class and it doesn’t matter what I believe.” ‘ I’m not going to lie to you, but I began to respond by raising my voice as well.
I’m like, “Dr. V, I’m not going to rewrite it. I’m here to present with my group.
But, according to Hamoud, Villagomez continued to demand her departure until the professor finally rushed out of the classroom to talk with a colleague.
Soon, Hamoud reported, campus police arrived, with a black officer entering the scene and inquiring what had occurred.
“As I recount my narrative, the professor returns and confirms, “Yes, officer, I want her removed.”
She claims that at that point, another white officer entered and said, “You must leave or I will have to remove you.”
“At this moment, I am thinking, Dr. V, are you going to let them arrest me? And she’s attempting to sort herself out,’ she said of the professor’s apology. ‘ She advised either apologizing or leaving.
‘I said “Apologize?’ The old me would have apologized, but I knew I was in the right. Therefore, I said, ‘Please apologize because you yelled at me and said the F-bomb.’
She then disclosed that she had been charged with a second-degree misdemeanor but had been released from custody since she had no prior misdemeanor convictions.
In the Instagram Live video, Hamoud claims Villagomez was berating her about an essay she had requested her to edit just hours before the group’s final presentation.
Many online commentators question if police were truly required, stating that this is yet another instance of police being called on black individuals for nonthreatening behavior.
Erika Strauss Chavarria, organizer of Black Lives Matter at Schools, stated, “In any classroom power struggle or dispute, there is not a single situation in which a law enforcement officer should be summoned into a classroom.”
Moreover, as other TikTok users noted, the incident occurred at a historically black college, where black students are expected to be safe.
Someone said, “Using the cops as a weapon at an HBCU is insane.”
Chavarria continued, “It baffles me that this professor, who teaches at an HBCU, has the historical understanding, background, or common sense to not call the police on a student.”
Since then, school authorities have stated that they “understand that the weaponization of police is a pervasive issue in our community, but that was not the case in this event.”
And spokesperson Gingles highlighted that Villagomez is currently receiving online threats.
She stated, “She is suffering with the incident that occurred yesterday.” ‘Throughout the course of the day, she got threats and harsh internet comments.’
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