Newborn Mila Jackson Heading Home to Her Family After Grueling 22 Day Saga
For immediate release -
Contact: theafiyacenter@berlinrosen.com
She’s On Her Way Home!
Newborn Mila Jackson Heading Home to Her Family After Grueling 22 Day Saga
Dallas, TX – Developing late yesterday and overnight, Dallas County’s district attorney’s office decided to reunite Mila with her loving and nurturing parents, Temecia and Rodney Jackson along with her two big brothers who’ve been asking where their baby sister is for more than three weeks. Following advocacy efforts led by The Afiya Center, a Dallas-based birth and reproductive justice organization, nearly 1-month old Mila is being released back to her parents’ protection ahead of a scheduled hearing date that was set for today.
“Public pressure and illuminating violations of our most fundamental rights works,” said Marsha Jones, Executive Director of The Afiya Center. “Mila is finally on her way back where she belongs. But this never should have happened in the first place. Systemic racism is the reason why Mila was separated from her family. Period. While the Jacksons finally get moments of needed rest and joy, we’ll keep fighting against the criminalization of Black parents, children, and midwives because NO ONE should live through this nightmare. The Jackson family won’t get justice until the healthcare providers, CPS workers, DeSoto police officers, Dallas constables, and every other person who allowed Mila to be taken from her family is held accountable.”
Mila was ripped from her parents arms and into CPS custody after their pediatrician of ten years disagreed with the baby’s cleared treatment protocol for jaundice under supervision from their midwife. Infant jaundice can also be treated with enhanced nutrition and light therapy, which the Jackson family was doing with their midwife’s care. The Afiya Center maintains what happened to the Jacksons and other parents like them is a clear attack on Black mothers, families and midwives.
“Mila isn’t the first Black baby to be unjustly ripped away from her family, and she won’t be the last one—unless fundamental changes are made to the child welfare and criminal justice systems,” said D’Andra Willis, Birth Justice Coordinator at The Afiya Center. “We need people to understand reproductive justice and freedom also means families have a right to choose when and how they want to parent. This includes informed decision making, culturally sensitive care and choosing birth and postpartum support plans that meet their specific needs.”
The Afiya Center is grateful for the partnership of Next Generation Action Network for their role in helping call attention to this case as well as Pregnancy Justice. Offering up pro Bono resources, Pregnancy Justice worked with the Jackson’s legal counsel to identify, secure and prepare two potential medical experts to testify in support of the Jacksons. Pregnancy Justice also provided strategic legal advocacy.
"We are relieved that the Jackson family will be reunited, but that doesn't undo the harm," said Pregnancy Justice Staff Attorney Emma Roth. "Time and again in our work, we see the 'child welfare system' weaponized to police pregnancy and separate families after delivery. The Jacksons' ordeal shows the trauma of the hospital-to-CPS pipeline, which terrorizes Black families. This should never have happened, and we're overjoyed Mila is heading home where she belongs."
The Jacksons will be enjoying some personal time with their daughter. Given latest developments a previously scheduled support rally set for later today is canceled.
For press coverage coordination please contact: theafiyacenter@berlinrosen.com.