Virginia high school track runner Alaila Everett…
The Virginia teen who was seen bashing an opponent’s head with a baton during a high school track meet held a rally of supporters on Thursday to reiterate her innocence.
The rally got here simply someday after she was served with a misdemeanor battery and assault charge.
The scholar, Alaila Everett, held the rally outdoors of her school, I.C. Norcom High School, in Portsmouth, Virginia.
Dozens of people have been seen attending the rally, as Everett delivered a tearful speech, the place she thanked her supporters whereas sobbing.
“Thank y’all for supporting me,” Everett mentioned to the supporters, as seen in footage by native Virginia information station WAVY. “There’s no one else that wanted to hear my story, except the people that know me and people that know I would never do anything like that, I would never harm anybody. I’m not a fighter, I’m not even confrontational, I wouldn’t even do that on purpose, and I thank y’all for believing in me. I love y’all.”
Everett’s speech was met with loud applause and a chant of “We stand with you.”
Alaila Everett hits Kaelen Tucker during their 4×200 meter race on the VHSL Class 3 State Indoor Championships at Liberty University. WSET ABC 13
Alaila Everett cries as she speaks at a rally in Portsmouth, Virginia, after being charged with assault on March 13, 2025. WAVY 10
Portsmouth NAACP President James Boyd additionally spoke on the rally, alleging threats and slurs which were directed at Everett’s household.
“The Everett family has experienced racial slurs, they’ve experienced death threats, and we think unequivocally that those things are unacceptable,” Boyd mentioned.
Local neighborhood activist Germain Green referred to as for unity from the neighborhood in assist of {the teenager}.
“It bothered me to my heart to see how the whole world was dragging this young lady, dragging her character based on what they thought they saw. I just wanted to step up, speak out, and bring unity and let this young lady know that the city of Portsmouth has her back,” Green mentioned.
Dozens of people attended the rally as Everett delivered a tearful speech, the place she thanked her supporters whereas sobbing. WAVY 10
Lynchburg Commonwealth’s Attorney Office confirmed to Fox News Digital Wednesday that one misdemeanor charge of assault and battery had been filed over the incident.
The incident occurred final Tuesday during a championship meet, as footage confirmed Everett smashing her baton onto the pinnacle of Brookville High School junior Kaelen Tucker during a relay race.
Everett and her entire group have been disqualified.
Everett claims the incident was an accident, saying she would by no means deliberately damage somebody. WSET ABC 13
Tucker grabs her head as she drops out of the race after the assault. WSET ABC 13
Tucker was later identified with a concussion and attainable cranium fracture, as footage of the incident went viral.
Everett has since mentioned the hits have been unintentional, in interviews with WAVY and “Good Morning America.”
The Virginia High School League (VHSL) beforehand issued a assertion to Fox News Digital on the matter.
“The VHSL does not comment on individuals or disciplinary actions due to FERPA,” the league’s assertion learn. “The actions taken by the meet director to disqualify the runner were appropriate and correct. We thoroughly review every instance like this that involves player safety with the participating schools. The VHSL membership has always made it a priority to provide student-athletes with a safe environment for competition.”
Tucker was later identified with a concussion and attainable cranium fracture, as footage of the incident went viral. Tamarro Tucker/Facebook
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Portsmouth Public School District for remark from the Everett household.
Prior to the misdemeanor expenses being introduced on Everett, the Portsmouth NAACP launched a assertion defending the embattled teen on Wednesday.
“Alaila is NOT AN ATTACKER and media headlines that allude towards that in any way is shameful. We understand the sensitivity of the circumstances for both athletes and their families involved but this narrative must not go unaddressed,” the assertion learn.
“Alaila is an honor student and a star athlete at the historic I.C. Norcom High School. From all accounts, she is an exceptional young leader and scholar whose athletic talent has been well documented and recognized across our state. She has carried herself with integrity both on and off the field and any narrative that adjudicates her guilty of any criminal activity is a violation of her due process rights.”
Fox News Digital’s Scott Thompson contributed to this report.
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