Police Called On 9-Year-Old Girl For Drawing "Black Lives Matter" In Chalk

A nine-year-old girl's chalk writing sparked a police response after her neighbor called 911 to report she was vandalizing the street. When officers arrived, they found the young girl, Mira Acklin, had written "Black Lives Matter" in chalk and determined she had done nothing wrong.

The encounter with the officers shook up the young girl, according to her mother, Jenna Acklin

"My daughter was very shaken, and I was angry," Jenna told WBNS.

After speaking with the neighbor who complained, officers encouraged Mira to keep writing.

"They said that I should do it more often, and if it goes away, then I should just do it more and more," Mira said.

Jenna used the experience to teach her daughter about racism.

"I said you know honey as uncomfortable as you feel, you also have to know your friends and other people of color feel this fear every day, multiplied times one-million. She couldn't understand why people would hate someone just because of their skin color."

Mira's other neighbors rallied to her support and helped her create new works of chalk art in the street.

"I felt this was a really good platform where she can come out and help support another young lady as well, who is going through something at such a young age, to where they'd be able to voice their words together," Christopher Burton, who showed up with his daughter, Kellis Smith, told WSYX.

Photo: WBNS-TV