WHEREAS, on April 20, 2022, the Delaware State University Women’s Lacrosse Team (“the Team”) was returning back to Delaware after playing a game in Florida; and
WHEREAS, the Team was traveling by bus which was operated by a Black bus driver; and
WHEREAS, the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office (“the Officers”), located in Hinesville, Georgia, stopped the bus claiming the driver had engaged in a minor traffic violation; and
WHEREAS, the Officers boarded the bus to inform the Team that the officers would be searching their luggage for any possible narcotics, such as marijuana and heroin; and
WHEREAS, the Officers told the Team that if anyone had narcotics, it needed to be reported, and threatened that if anything were found, they would go to prison; and
WHEREAS, a video taken by one of the Team’s players shows the Officers attempting to intimidate the Team into confessing to possessing narcotics or drug paraphernalia; and
WHEREAS, the Officers ordered the bus driver to open the trunk of the bus so that the Officers could search the Team’s luggage; and
WHEREAS, in addition to searching the luggage and personally searching through the Team’s personal belongings such as underwear and feminine products, the Officers also brought in a canine to sniff the luggage; and
WHEREAS, the Officers found nothing illegal during their search which lasted over 20 minutes; and
WHEREAS, the Team acted respectfully to the Officers despite the humiliating and terrifying experience; and
WHEREAS, the Delaware State University Lacrosse Team truly embodies what it means to rise above racial disparity.
NOW, THEREFORE:
BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the 151st General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the House of Representatives concurring therein, that the General Assembly proudly stands with the Delaware State University Women’s Lacrosse Team.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the General Assembly condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the actions of the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office in Hinesville, Georgia against the Delaware State University Women’s Lacrosse Team.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the General Assembly urges the Governor of the State of Georgia and the Georgia General Assembly to condemn the actions of the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office against the Delaware State University Women’s Lacrosse Team and take measures to hold those responsible accountable, including providing training and instituting a policy against profiling based on race, ethnicity, religion, or gender so that conduct such as this never happens again.
