Benjy Taylor, the head coach for Tuskegee University’s men’s basketball team, is set to announce a lawsuit against Morehouse College and two campus police officers, who handcuffed him during a game in January. Following the incident, Taylor hired civil rights attorneys. Taylor, who was not charged with a crime, said he felt “violated” and described the incident as “heartbreaking.”
Benjy Taylor is expected to file a lawsuit on Friday
Taylor is set to formally announce a lawsuit on Friday during an 11 a.m. news conference being hosted at a hotel near Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, according to CBS News. The lawsuit will reportedly list Morehouse College, as well as campus police officers R. Clark and M. Roberson as defendants.
A team of civil rights attorneys will be leading the case, which includes Harry Daniels, John Burris, Gerald Griggs and Gregory Reynald Williams. Taylor hired the team shortly after the incident, which occurred on January 31. Daniels publicly spoke out in defense of his client shortly after.
As Blavity reported, Daniels said, “It would be bad for a police officer to treat anyone like this. But to do it to a man like Coach Taylor, a highly respected professional and role model, to put him in handcuffs, humiliate him and treat him like a criminal in front of his team, his family and a gym full of fans is absolutely disgusting and they need to be held accountable.”
“Coach Taylor is a good man who did the right thing to protect his team and de-escalate a dangerous situation, and this officer put him in chains for his troubles,” he added.
Benjy Taylor was handcuffed by police and escorted off the court during a game
Tuskegee University and Morehouse College played a Division II HBCU basketball matchup on January 31. After the game, a group of Morehouse football players started mingling with the basketball teams, and Taylor asked the security officer for their removal. This resulted in an escalation that led to Taylor being handcuffed, escorted off the court, and led into a room labeled “Weightroom.”
Taylor was not charged with a crime and was released to travel back with the team.
“I am at a loss for words and I am upset about how I was violated and treated today,” he then said in a statement, per Blavity. “For my players, my family and people of Tuskegee to witness that is heartbreaking for me. I was simply trying to get the football team out of the handshake line as they were following right behind me and the team yelling obscenities! It was a very dangerous situation.”
Benjy Taylor received public support from Tuskegee University, while the SIAC found that Morehouse College did not meet security standards during the game
The incident quickly drew attention from fans and media alike as videos started to circulate online. Tuskegee University expressed its support of Taylor, whom it reiterated was concerned about security during the game.
“During the events in question, Coach Taylor acted solely out of his fundamental responsibility to protect his student-athletes and staff—particularly in an environment where agreed-upon and customary game‑management and security protocols were not properly carried out,” Tuskegee University President Mark A. Brown wrote in a Feb. 1 statement. “His conduct remained measured, professional, and entirely consistent with the expectations of a head coach entrusted with the safety of his team.”
The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference launched an investigation into the incident and found that Morehouse College did not meet required security standards for a host institution, WSFA reported.
“The SIAC holds its member institutions to the highest standards of sportsmanship, professionalism, and institutional accountability,” Commissioner Anthony Holloman said in a statement, according to the news outlet. “Our historic institutions are expected to provide competitive environments that prioritize the safety, dignity, and mutual respect of student-athletes, coaches, officials, and fans. The conference remains committed to upholding these expectations and to ensuring that all SIAC contests are conducted in a manner consistent with our shared values.”
The organization did not share the amount of the fine but said it would “ensure compliance with security policies in the future.”
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