In 2013, Cheree Peoples, a single mother in California, faced arrest for truancy violations under a law backed by then-Attorney General Kamala Harris.

Severe medical issues stemming from sickle cell anemia caused frequent absences for Peoples’ daughter, Shayla, a chronic blood disorder that leads to extreme pain and requires regular hospital visits. Despite the school having medical documentation and a 504 plan in place, officials questioned 20 of Shayla's 60 absences, triggering legal action against Peoples.

On April 18, 2013, an anti-gang task force arrived at Peoples’ home and arrested her while she was three months postpartum and still in her pajamas. Authorities made the arrest under Harris’ statewide crackdown on truancy, a campaign intended to combat absenteeism by threatening parents of children who missed over 10% of school days with fines and potential jail time.

The arrest marked the beginning of a grueling two-year legal ordeal that devastated Peoples’ personal and financial life, Daily Mail reported.

Legal Battle Costs Mother Her Home And Job

Prosecutors charged Peoples with contributing to the delinquency of a minor and failure to supervise school attendance. Despite offering her a plea deal that involved parenting classes instead of jail time, she refused, maintaining her innocence and arguing that her daughter’s severe illness explained the absences.

The case dragged on for over two years, during which Peoples faced significant financial strain. She lost her job and her home, forcing her to live in motels while she continued to pay legal fees. Throughout this period, stress from the legal case reportedly exacerbated her daughter Shayla’s health condition. In May 2015, Shayla suffered a stroke, which Peoples believes resulted directly from the ongoing turmoil.

Truancy Law Championed By Harris Sparks Controversy

Kamala Harris, who led the truancy crackdown, has consistently justified the law as a necessary measure to address chronic absenteeism and prevent future involvement in criminal activities like gang violence. Now a prominent national figure, Harris claims that she did not jail any parents under the law during her tenure as attorney general. However, Peoples and her daughter strongly dispute this, pointing to their experience as an example of the law’s harmful effects.

“Go talk to Kamala Harris,” Peoples recalls one officer telling her when she tried to explain Shayla’s illness at the time of her arrest. Since then, Peoples has become a vocal critic of Harris’s policies, calling them unjust and damaging to families, particularly those of marginalized backgrounds. “My baby was sick, the school knew that – but Kamala Harris could not wait to throw a black woman with a disabled child into jail,” Peoples said.

Daughter Feels Lasting Impact From Ordeal

Now 22, Shayla Peoples has spoken out about how the ordeal affected her childhood and health. Although she eventually graduated high school with a 3.8 GPA, she still feels the emotional scars from the legal battle. Shayla desires an apology from Harris, citing the humiliating way her mother was treated during the arrest and throughout the process.

“I felt like maybe if I wasn't sick or if I had just forced myself to go to school regardless of how bad my pain was, none of this would have happened,” Shayla said, reflecting on how the situation unfolded. Her mother echoed these sentiments, emphasizing how the case negatively impacted her daughter’s well-being. “The case exacerbated her illness, 100 percent,” Peoples stated. “I lost a piece of my child that I can never get back.”

Documentary Shines New Light On Controversial Case

The case involving Peoples has resurfaced in the public eye, particularly during Harris’ campaigns for higher office. Peoples and her daughter have repeatedly called for Harris to acknowledge the harm caused by her truancy policies, which they believe unfairly target vulnerable parents like Peoples. Their story features in the documentary *Arrested by Kamala: A Black Mother’s Story,* directed by Joel Gilbert, which revisits the events of 2013 and sheds light on the broader implications of the truancy law.

While Harris has stood by her efforts to address truancy, the controversy surrounding Peoples’ case raises questions about the law’s implementation and its impact on families dealing with complex challenges. As the documentary highlights, Shayla’s family documented her chronic illness well, yet they still faced a legal battle that dragged on for years, costing them their home and peace of mind.

Ongoing Calls For Accountability

Peoples continues to advocate for changes to policies that criminalize parents of children with legitimate medical conditions. “Parents have a right to advocate for their child without being victimized or criminalized,” she said, adding that her case should serve as a warning against overly punitive measures in addressing school absenteeism.

Shayla, too, has been vocal about the need for accountability, not just from local officials but from Harris herself. “I do feel that she owes my mother an apology,” she stated. “For her to be painted as a criminal and handcuffed like she had just murdered someone was very humiliating and very hurtful.”

As Kamala Harris rises in the political arena, stories like that of Cheree and Shayla Peoples remain a poignant reminder of the unintended consequences of well-meaning laws. Whether the former attorney general will address their calls for an apology remains to be seen.