Taylor Dumpson facts for kids

Taylor Dumpson is an American lawyer. She became well-known for standing up against hate and online bullying. This happened after she became the first Black woman to lead the student government at American University. She faced a hate crime and then a lot of online harassment, but she fought back with a successful lawsuit. Today, she works as an associate counsel at the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.

Early Life and Education

Taylor Dumpson was born in Washington D.C. and grew up in the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Her mother is an executive vice president at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, and her father is an executive movie producer. Her family has lived in the Eastern Shore area since the 1800s.

A major event that changed her life was the killing of Trayvon Martin. She described it as a "generational moment" that inspired her to become more involved in activism during high school. She attended Wicomico High School. After that, she went to American University to earn her first degree in Law and Society. Later, she completed her law degree (JD) at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law.

Making History at American University

At American University, Taylor Dumpson was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, a sorority mainly for Black women. On April 30, 2017, she made history by becoming the first Black woman president of the student government.

The very next day, on May 1, bananas were found hanging from nooses on campus. Some of these bananas had notes aimed at her sorority. This was a serious hate crime. The FBI started an investigation. Students protested this act, and hundreds of people attended a town hall meeting to discuss what happened.

Within a few days, the Anti-Defamation League told Dumpson that a neo-Nazi website called The Daily Stormer had targeted her. The website, run by Andrew Anglin, encouraged a "troll storm" against her. This meant people would send her many mean and harassing messages online, and her picture and social media information were shared. Taylor Dumpson said she had to increase her security and experienced PTSD because of the harassment.

The Lawsuit: Dumpson v. Ade

In April 2018, Taylor Dumpson decided to take legal action. With help from the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, she filed a lawsuit. She accused Andrew Anglin, Evan James McCarty, and Brian Andrew Ade of violating human rights laws in Washington D.C. The lawsuit also claimed that Anglin encouraged others to cause her emotional distress, interfered with her right to equal education, and planned to stalk her.

In December 2018, Dumpson reached an agreement with Evan James McCarty. This agreement was based on restorative justice, which focuses on repairing harm. As part of the settlement, McCarty agreed to apologize to Dumpson, to say he no longer supported white supremacy, and to complete community service.

In August 2019, a judge ruled in Dumpson's favor in a default judgment. This means the judge made a decision because the other side (Anglin) did not respond to the lawsuit. Taylor Dumpson was awarded more than $725,000 in damages and fees against Anglin. The judge also issued restraining orders against Anglin, Ade, and Moonbase Holdings, the company that supported The Daily Stormer.

Judge Rosemary M. Collyer stated in her ruling that Dumpson was "targeted because of her race and gender." Dumpson's attorney, Kristen Clarke, called the ruling "historic." This was because it showed that racist online trolling can stop someone from having equal access to public places or opportunities, like education.

Career

In 2021, Taylor Dumpson became a President's Fellow at the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. This organization, based in Washington D.C., works to protect and promote civil rights. She has continued to work there as an associate counsel, using her legal skills to help others.