Pennsylvania State Chapter National Action Network calls for investigation into death of 12-year-old student, Laporisha Massey. PA NAN’s November 2, 2013, town hall meeting on Philadelphia’s school funding crisis will be held in her memory.

1. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Paula S. Peebles
(215) 765-6181 office
(215) 869-0166 cell
paulapeebles@yahoo.com
Pennsylvania State Chapter National Action Network Says Enough is Enough
Calls for an Investigation into the Death of Laporshia Massey
Philadelphia, PA – October 15, 2013 – One month into the school year, there is a
disturbing report about the death of Laporshia Massey from asthma complications. The
12-year-old was a student at Bryant Elementary School, where she apparently had an
asthma attack. The West Philly school does not have a full-time nurse. On the day
Laporshia complained she could not breathe, there was no nurse on duty.
“Enough is enough,” said Paula S. Peebles, chairperson of the Pennsylvania State
Chapter National Action Network (PA NAN). “Philadelphia is ranked among the top five
cities for the prevalence of asthma. I am outraged that Laporshia reportedly was told
‘there’s no nurse, just to be calm.’ This is no time to be calm. From Trayvon Martin to
Laporshia Massey, it’s clear that black life is not valued.”
According to Philadelphia Allies Against Asthma, 22 percent of Philadelphia children
under 18 have been diagnosed with asthma – nearly twice the national rate. The School
District of Philadelphia is required to provide school nursing services under both state
and federal laws. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 mandates the District
accommodate children with a qualified physical impairment such as asthma.
“We call on the School District and the Pennsylvania Department of Health to
investigate what happened,” said Matthew Smith, Sr., PA NAN’s President. “In West
and North Philly, more than 30 percent of children between the ages of 5 and 12 have
been diagnosed with asthma. These are the communities that been disproportionately

2. impacted by school closings and school nurse layoffs. We need to ensure that
procedures are in place to prevent another tragedy.”
Peebles added: “On Saturday, November 9, 2013, PA NAN will hold a town hall meeting
on Philadelphia’s school funding crisis. The death of Little Laporshia is a wake-up call
that there is more at stake than contract negotiations. The futures and very lives of our
precious babies are at stake. The gathering will be a call to action. Our community
conversation will be dedicated to the memory of Laporshia Massey.”
About Pennsylvania State Chapter National Action Network: The Pennsylvania
State Chapter National Action Network is a nonprofit organization incorporated for the
purpose of advocating for equal education opportunities and equal justice under the law;
promoting policies and initiatives to reduce gun violence, racial profiling and “stop and
frisk” policing; and fostering civic engagement by hosting public forums, rallies and other
nonpartisan events. For more information, visit http://phillynan.org.
About National Action Network: The National Action Network is the nation’s leading
civil rights and human rights organization, with chapters throughout the United
States. Founded in 1991 by Reverend Al Sharpton, NAN works within the spirit and
tradition of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to promote a modern civil rights agenda that
includes the fight for one standard of justice, decency and equal opportunities for all
people regardless of race, religion, nationality or gender. For more information, visit
www.nationalactionnetwork.net.