Taylor Dumpson

Taylor Dumpson (born 1995 or 1996) is an American attorney[2] and 2021 President's Fellow at the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.[3] She was the target of hate crimes after she became the first Black woman president of the student government at American University, and responded to an online troll storm with a successful lawsuit.

Taylor Dumpson
Born1995 or 1996 (age 26–27)[1]
Washington, D.C.
Alma materBenjamin N. Cardozo School of Law
OccupationAttorney
Years active5
EmployerLawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law

Biography

Dumpson was born in Washington D.C. and raised in the Eastern Shore of Maryland.[3] Her mother is an executive vice president at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and her father is an executive movie producer.[4] Her family ties to the Eastern Shore begin in the 1800s.[5] She has described the killing of Trayvon Martin as a life-changing event and a "generational moment" that inspired her to become more involved in activism during high school.[5] She attended Wicomico High School, then American University for her BA in Law and Society, and completed her JD at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law.[3]

At American University, she was a member of the predominantly Black sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha, and began her term as the first Black woman president of the student government on April 30, 2017.[6] On May 1, bananas hung from nooses, some including notes directed at her sorority, were found on campus, and the FBI began to investigate.[6][7] Students protested and hundreds attended a town hall meeting in response to the incident.[7][6][8]

Within days, Dumpson was told by the Anti-Defamation League that the neo-Nazi website The Daily Stormer run by Andrew Anglin had targeted her for a "troll storm" of cyberharassment, including by posting her picture and social media contact information.[9][1][10] She has said she increased security precautions and experienced PTSD as a result of the harassment that followed.[9][1][11]

In April 2018, with representation from the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Dumpson filed a lawsuit alleging violations of the District of Columbia Human Rights Act of 1977 and the D.C. Bias-Related Crimes Act of 1989 against Andrew Anglin, Evan James McCarty, and Brian Andrew Ade.[12] The lawsuit also included a variety of allegations against Anglin, including incitement of intentional infliction of emotional distress, interfering with her right to equal opportunity to education, and conspiracy to commit stalking.[11] In December 2018, Dumpson reached a settlement with McCarty that was influenced by principles of restorative justice and included his agreement to apologize to Dumpson, to renounce white supremacy, and to complete community service.[9][1][13]

In August 2019, in a default judgment,[14] Dumpson was awarded more than $725,000 in damages, costs, and fees against Anglin, as well as restraining orders against Anglin, Ade, and Moonbase Holdings, known as the company that supports The Daily Stormer.[15][16] In her ruling, Judge Rosemary M. Collyer found Dumpson was "targeted because of her race and gender", and Dumpson's attorney Kristen Clarke described the ruling as "historic"[16] due to the finding that racist online trolling can cause interference with equal access to a public accommodation.[17]

Dumpson is a 2021 President's Fellow at the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, a DC-based organization that promotes civil rights.[18]

References
  1. Karen Zraick (December 21, 2018). "Student Targeted by 'Troll Storm' Hopes Settlement Will Send Message to White Supremacists". The New York Times. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
  2. Clarke, Kristen (November 18, 2021). "Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke Delivers Remarks at Dillard University's 10th Annual Justice Revius O. Ortique Jr. Lecture on Law and Society". United States Department of Justice. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  3. "Taylor Dumpson". Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  4. Gates, Deborah (June 25, 2017). "Rising above racism: Salisbury resident Taylor Dumpson's resolve tested, but unwavering". Daily Times. ProQuest 1913108695. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  5. Taylor Dumpson (2018). "Taylor Dumpson". In Arjun Singh Sethi (ed.). American Hate: Survivors Speak Out. The New Press. ISBN 9781620973721. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  6. Larimer, Sarah (June 26, 2017). "After bananas and nooses on campus, here's how a student body president copes". The Washington Post. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  7. Fortin, Jacey (May 3, 2017). "F.B.I. Helping American University Investigate Bananas Found Hanging From Nooses". The New York Times. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  8. Samsel, Haley; Turner, Nora (May 2, 2017). "American University hosts town hall to address racist incident targeting black women". The Eagle. American University. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  9. Martin, Michel (September 12, 2021). "After Neo-Nazis Targeted Her, Taylor Dumpson Says Young Generations Give Her Hope". All Things Considered. NPR. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  10. Lavin, Talia (October 13, 2020). Culture Warlords: My Journey Into the Dark Web of White Supremacy. Grand Central Publishing. ISBN 9780306846441. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  11. Simon, Mallory; Sidner, Sara (May 11, 2018). "School's first female black student president was the target of a racist attack. Now she's suing over the 'troll storm' that followed". CNN. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  12. "1st black woman student president at American Univ. seeks $1.5M damages from neo-Nazi site founder". NBC News. Associated Press. April 30, 2019. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  13. Sidner, Sara; Simon, Mallory (September 21, 2019). "He tweeted hate at her. She sued. Then she met him". CNN. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  14. Calvert, Clay (April 2020). "Troll Storms and Tort Liability for Speech Urging Action by Others: A First Amendment Analysis and an Initial Step Towards a Federal Rule". Washington University Law Review. Washington University School of Law. 97 (4). Retrieved 30 November 2021. As was the situation in Gersh, Andrew Anglin failed to defend against Taylor Dumpson's lawsuit and default judgment was entered against him in August 2019. (47) In brief, the crucial issue at the heart of this Commentary regarding vicarious tort liability for speech-sparked troll storms was never fully litigated or resolved in either Gersh or Dumpson.
  15. "First black woman student president at American Univ. awarded $725k in suit against neo-Nazi website founder". NBC News. Associated Press. August 13, 2019. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  16. Padilla, Mariel (August 10, 2019). "Student Wins $725,000 in Lawsuit Over 'Troll Storm' Led by The Daily Stormer". The New York Times. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  17. Schmidt, Samantha (August 10, 2019). "Federal judge awards over $700,000 to former American University student targeted in neo-Nazi 'troll storm'". The Washington Post. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  18. Rachel Maddow (October 25, 2021). "Neo-Nazi organizers of Charlottesville being financially wrecked by lawsuit". MSNBC. Retrieved November 30, 2021. Taylor Dumpson of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law talks about her own experience using the court system to punish racist attackers.
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