17-year-old track runner holds rally after getting assault charge for hitting opponent's head with baton

A screenshot of Alaila Everett getting emotional during her speech in a rally on March 13, 2025 outside of I.C. Norcom High School in Portsmouth, Virginia.

The rally, held on March 13, came just one day after the 17-year-old was charged with misdemeanor assault and battery in connection with the incident.

Dozens attended the rally outside of I.C. Norcom High School in Portsmouth, Virginia, where Everett delivered an emotional speech, thanking those who supported her, NY Post reported.

"Thank y'all for supporting me," she said with teary eyes. "There's no one else that wanted to hear my story except the people that know me and know I would never do anything like that. I would never harm anybody. I'm not a fighter, I'm not even confrontational, I wouldn't do that on purpose, and I thank y'all for believing in me. I love y'all."

Her speech was met with applause and chants of "We stand with you."

Portsmouth's National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) president James Boyd spoke at the rally, condemning threats Everett's family has allegedly received since the incident.

"The Everett family has experienced racial slurs, they've experienced death threats, and we think unequivocally that those things are unacceptable," Boyd said.

The Lynchburg Commonwealth's Attorney Office confirmed to Fox News Digital that Everett was charged with one count of misdemeanor assault and battery.

The incident occurred during a championship meet last Tuesday when footage showed Everett striking Brookville High School junior Kaelen Tucker in the head with a baton during a relay race. Everett and her entire team were disqualified as a result.

Alaila Everett is caught hitting Kaelen Tucker in the head with a baton on camera during a high school track meet on March 10, 2025.

Tucker was diagnosed with a concussion and possible skull fracture. The video of the incident quickly went viral.

Everett has since denied any intentional wrongdoing, telling WAVY and Good Morning America in interviews that the hit was accidental.

The Virginia High School League (VHSL) then issued a statement to Fox News Digital.

"The VHSL does not comment on individuals or disciplinary actions due to FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act)," the statement read. "The actions taken by the meet director to disqualify the runner were appropriate and correct. We thoroughly review every instance like this that involves player safety with the participating schools."

Kaelen Tucker, who was later diagnosed with a concussion after being hit in the head with a baton during a school track meet. Photo by Facebook/Kaelen Tucker

Before charges were announced, the Portsmouth NAACP released a statement in support of Everett, rejecting claims that she intentionally harmed Tucker.

"Alaila is NOT AN ATTACKER, and media headlines that allude towards that in any way are shameful," the statement read. "Alaila is an honor student and a star athlete. From all accounts, she is an exceptional young leader and scholar whose athletic talent has been well-documented and recognized across our state. She has carried herself with integrity both on and off the field, and any narrative that adjudicates her guilty of any criminal activity is a violation of her due process rights."