Ex-Student Sues Brooklyn Friends School, Alleges Rape by Janitor

Amala Muhammed Redd, a former student at Brooklyn Friends School, has filed a lawsuit against the institution, alleging she was repeatedly raped by a janitor during her time at the school. The case, filed under the recently passed Child Victims Act, claims the abuse occurred when Redd was in second and third grade. The lawsuit highlights the school’s failure to address the situation, despite the janitor’s repeated interactions with the young student.

Redd alleges that the janitor, identified in court documents as Jesus Flores, would take her out of class and bring her to a closet for sexual abuse. She described how he would enter her classroom, claiming she had a phone call or was needed downstairs, and instruct her to wait in a sports closet on the top floor of the school. The abuse reportedly included kissing, oral sex, and rape, leaving her in “excruciating pain.”

The school, an independent Quaker institution with a curriculum rooted in the Religious Society of Friends, has a long history of notable alumni, including Malia and Sasha Obama, Vera Wang, Chelsea Clinton, and Bill Nye. The school’s current tuition is reported to be around $45,000 per year, underscoring the significant financial investment made by families who enroll their children.

According to Redd, the janitor’s behavior initially drew suspicion from her teacher, who stopped the visits but failed to inform others in the school. This inaction allegedly allowed the janitor to continue targeting Redd during gym class, where he would instruct her to wait in the closet. Redd claimed she felt compelled to comply due to the janitor’s perceived authority, despite the gym teacher’s failure to intervene.

Redd described the emotional and physical toll of the abuse, including self-harm attempts as she tried to signal for help. She said she would bite her lips until they bled and bang her head against the wall in desperation. She also attempted to appear bruised to avoid gym class, hoping to prevent further encounters with the janitor.

The case has raised questions about the school’s response to the abuse and its responsibility in protecting students. The lawsuit seeks justice for Redd, who now works as a real estate agent in Manhattan. The case continues as the school faces scrutiny over its handling of the incident.

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