SoHo Karen Sued By Teen’s Family

We’re Going to Civil Court Where The Money Resides

We all know Soho Karen engaged in racial profiling when she stopped a black teen and proceeded to assault him over a missing phone with absolutely no reason to suspect him other than his race.

Now the family of the teen she harassed has filed a suit seeking compensation on exactly those grounds. Keyon Harrold Jr., 14, and his parents had Civil Rights attorney Ben Crump file the suit in New York on the grounds of the city’s Human Rights Law which prohibits discrimination in public accommodations like hotels. The teen’s parents said he asks them “why, why me” and has had to seek intensive counseling after the event which is what led them to seek justice.

The family likely chose Benjamin Crump because he is one of the most well known Civil Rights lawyers of our time, noted by his opponents for his ability to bring cases to the public. In many of the cases Crump represented such as Tamir Rice and Mike Brown, the publicity he brought those cases were unable to change the outcomes of the criminal trials and this has recently brought Crump under fire. However, the standard of proof in a civil case is much lower. Instead of ‘beyond a reasonable doubt’ the standard is ‘a preponderance of evidence’ and that makes it a little easier to get direct aid and retribution to survivors of violence through civil court. For this reason, civil trials have sometimes been seen as better options when seeking justice for victims of crime. Which (if you ask me) is a truly sad reality that shows just how much work our generation has cut out for us if we want to see equal justice for all in America during our lifetime.

“The teen’s parents said he asks them “why, why me” and has had to seek intensive counseling after the event.”

Ponsetto violently attacked Keyon Harold in the lobby of the Soho hotel where Keyon’s family was staying. Ponsetto was not a guest there. She accused the 14 year old of stealing her phone and physically charged the young teen making demands that he return the device and await for police to arrest him. NYPD released a video of the grown 20 something year old woman tackling the young boy to the ground as he tried to escape her by fleeing towards the hotel’s front door. Her missing phone was later returned to her by an Uber driver. She had no reason to suspect the minor at all.

This incident, where a grown woman assaulted a young teen over a possession she lost herself, is product of a culture where racism is an everyday practice for so many Americans. The 22 year old, Miya Ponsetto, is seen on camera intimidating and harassing the 14 year old boy who tries to escape her more than once. During the incident, which was recorded in its entirety, Keyon is seen trying to get away from Ponsetto as he insists he does not have her phone; nevertheless, Ponsetto is seen flying into a rage as she escalates into an all out physical attack on the young child who is almost a decade her junior. During the incident hotel management rushed to the defense of the young woman who had physically attacked the 14 year old instead of Keyon, who was the victim of the violent crime. Miya has since been charged with criminal assault. Because of the disgusting response of hotel personnel, not only is a ‘Nathan Ponsetto’ named as a defendant in the civil suit but the hotel ‘Arlo SoHo LLC’ is named as well.

To make matters worse, Ponsetto had the audacity to go on national television and double down by defending her actions. Ponsetto appeared on ‘CBS This Morning’ with Gayle King where she defended her own innocence and humanity as if it excused her inability to see these exact same traits in 14 year old Keyon Harold Jr.

“Ponsetto’s feelings of entitlement to innocence and forgiveness even after her obvious brutality towards Harrold where she strips him of those things is part of a historical trend of white privilege.”

While literally wearing a dad cap tackily embroidered with the word ‘daddy,’ Ponsetto can be seen launching into another irate rage as she screams at the computer screen where she was being interviewed. Ponsetto was apparently irate that Gayle King wouldn’t excuse her actions on the sole basis that she’s “a 22 year old girl.” Miya became indignant at Gayle’s refusal to agree that she was entitled to forgiveness as she asks the journalist ‘how’ her actions were a crime and lambasted the acclaimed black female talk show host on her own nationally aired morning television show. Even telling King “Gayle enough.”

Ponsetto’s feelings of automatic entitlement to innocence and forgiveness even after her obvious brutality towards Keyon where she strips him of those things is part of a historical trend of white privilege. Everyday BIPOC people such as Keyon are refused this assumption of fragility, youth, innocence, or humanity and are asked to forfeit these virtues to afford them to others who perpetrate violence against them just like in this incident. To Miya we ask: What about Keyon’s innocence, humanity, and youth?

The teen’s parents said he is still haunted by the incident which is why they have decided to file suit. We await for the case to move forward. Meanwhile, Ponsetto is due in court on Monday for her criminal case. Bye, Karen!