A mother is seeking answers as to why her 6 year old daughter was placed in hand cuffs after an incident at school.

Peel Reginal Police said that officers were called to Nahani Way Public School in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, back in September. They were responding to staff saying the girl was acting violently and would not calm down. They say they placed the cuffs on the girl as she was a danger to herself and others.

The family and Donardo Jones, their lawyer, are calling the actions excessive and told CTV Toronto:

“According to them, she was kicking, screaming and spitting and punching,”

“She weighs 48 pounds,”

Her mother told the News Station:

“The police officer was on the phone and he said, ‘We had to handcuff your daughter,’… I couldn’t even think straight – I was really angry,… Angry at the staff, angry at the police.”

Police had already been called to the school to deal with the child two times previously and Peel Sgt. Josh Colley told CTV Toronto:

“With regards to the kicking and punching and the violent actions, they had to restrain her to ensure everyone’s safety,”

CTVnews.ca reported:

The African Canadian Legal Clinic is now filing numerous complaints against the school board and police, including human rights complaints.

“Had she not been an African-Canadian child, I strongly, strongly believe this would not have happened,” Jones said.

But police stand by their actions, and say it was not racially motivated. “It’s an insult to think that someone would say that race played a part in the way that we dealt with the situation,” Sgt. Colley.

Police are reviewing the incident, but the African Canadian Legal Clinic says it wants answers and accountability.

“An apology — it’s a start and only a start,” said Margaret Parsons, executive director of the African Canadian Legal Clinic. “But I think all that are involved must account for this abusive actions.”

Read more at CTV News here.

Do you think this was excessive or warranted?