OCALA, FL (352today.com) – It was Friday, May 30. April Morant and her kids were outside playing on the front porch, blowing bubbles and running around in the Ocala summer heat. Suddenly, Morant’s next-door neighbor, Ada Anderson, came outside and began shouting racist remarks at Morant’s children.
“She started calling my children little n****r monkeys,” says Morant, who called the police without hesitation.
Morant has five children, but her 3-year-old and 6-year-old daughters were the targets of Anderson’s slurs.
“How do you explain to them that this lady is being mean to her because of her skin color? Especially when my best friend is white and they’re around her all the time,” says Morant.
Morant says that police responded to the scene and instructed Anderson to leave the family alone. She went back inside, but that wasn’t the end of the incident.
Bear Mace Attack
Later that day, while the children were still outside, Morant says Anderson returned – this time with something in her hand.
“I thought she had a gun,” says Morant, who recalls Anderson pointing the object toward her and her children.
In Anderson’s hand was a can of bear mace. She sprayed it in the direction of Morant and her children, directly hitting them.
Morant quickly rushed her kids inside the house. Once they were safe, she stepped back outside.
“In the back of my mind, I started thinking that she wanted me to come into her backyard so she could do something to me,” says Morant.
Police returned to the scene and arrested Anderson. She was charged with three counts of felony battery and has since been released on bond as of June 1.
Ongoing Trauma
Although no further incidents have occurred, Morant says the damage has been done.
“Now, when I walk out my front door, I start breathing hard and telling God to watch over me because I don’t know what this lady has going on,” she says.
The impact on her children has been severe.
“I used to tell my six-year-old to grab something from the car… but now she’s scared to go outside because of the lady. It’s summertime and they can’t even go outside and play without feeling scared,” says Morant.
Her daughters, once curious and playful, no longer feel safe doing simple outdoor activities.
“My daughters always loved to go outside to find bugs on the ground, but now they can’t go outside and even play in their little pool or make water balloons because they’re scared,” she says.
Health and Hope
Morant says she’s seeking counseling for her children and has started a GoFundMe to help the family move.
“I’m appreciative of everybody that tries to help,” she says, hoping to relocate this summer so her kids can enjoy the rest of their vacation.