On the evening of July 17, 18-year-old activist Miracle Boyd was assaulted by a Chicago police officer while protesting at the Christopher Columbus statue in Grant Park. Several of her teeth were knocked out during the physical encounter. The teen has since received a new smile courtesy of “Married To Medicine” star Dr. Heavenly.
Dr. Heavenly took to Instagram to share photos and video of Boyd’s new veneers. “My beautiful Miracle @miracleboyd18,” she captioned the post. “I’m so sorry this happened to you! Glad I could help. #BlackLivesMatter #PrayForOURBabies @smilesbydrheavenly.”
A few days after the assault, Boyd spoke out at a press conference.
“So, basically, a caucasian male was [getting] arrested and I was recording the police,” she said. “The police officer came up to me and he smacked my phone out my hand and it hit me in the mouth. My [teeth] got knocked out. I feel like it shouldn’t have happened.”
She added, “[The cop] wanted me to put my phone away, I wasn’t going to put it away…. You can’t deny me my rights.” Boyd also called for the officer to be relieved of his duties.
Many people witnessed the assault and it was even caught on video. Jeanette Taylor spoke out about the situation shortly after it took place. “I’m going to tell you right now, if this was my kid — and Miracle is one of mine — I would burn this city to the ground,” Taylor said of Boyd, who is good friends with her daughter. “You beat people up over a statue? You rough them up over a statue?”
She concluded, “They’re so busy protecting white supremacy, they’re so busy protecting a Christopher Columbus statue that they beat her.”
More than 20 complaints were filed against the Chicago Police Department the night of Boyd’s assault. Mayor Lori Lightfoot has since ordered the removal of the Columbus statues from two Chicago parks to prevent further confrontation between the officers and protesters.
Check out video and photos of Boyd’s new smile below.