School Bus Driver Fired and Arrested After Being Caught On Video Pushing Two Black Students

A White school bus driver in Georgia has been fired and arrested after video footage of him pushing 2 young Black children began circulating on social media.

James O’Neil, who drove for Morgan County school district, was let go from his job and charged with two counts of battery.

The incident, which occurred on Sept. 9, shows O’Neil telling a 6-year old boy and his 10-year old sister to go the the back of the bus–then aggressively shoving them.

The children’s mother, Nequania Carter, told FOX5 that her son and daughter, were traumatized by the incident.

“My son is terrified, he was scared, he called for his older sister as you could hear he was crying … he was horrified … you’re supposed to be protecting him,” she said. 

“I don’t know why he told them sit in the back of the bus because the high schoolers sit back there and normally the primaries sit right behind the bus driver.”

She said the incident was not the first time her family had complained about O’Neil and that she believed his actions were racially motivated.

According to Carter, the encounter with O’Neil has her children afraid to go back to school.

After his arrest, Carter and her husband released a statement. 

“We are very relieved that charges were filed and that no other parents have to worry about the safety of their children when it comes to Mr. O’Neil,” they wrote.

“We really appreciate the NAACP for all their support and assistance and also the support from the community.”

The Carters also revealed that they have removed their children from the Morgan County School district because they weren’t happy with their initial response.

“We feel like [O’Neil] was terminated because the story got more coverage than the Morgan County Charter School System would have liked,” the children’s mother said.

“It was rumored that they were just going to send him to be retrained.”

An investigation is still ongoing.

O’Neil spent a day in custody before being released on bond. He is awaiting a court date, at which time he will enter his plea.