Singing grandma thrown off train gets support of local officials - KiiiTV3.com South Texas, Corpus Christi, Coastal Bend

Courtesy ABC News

Emma Anderson, the 82-year-old grandmother who was captured on camera being thrown off a train for singing, has gained the support of officials in her Florida county.

Anderson's family said she was injured when a privately employed Miami-Dade Transit security guard yanked her from her seat and escorted her off the train. The Feb. 20 incident was captured on a cell phone video that has sparked outrage, and left Anderson's family considering legal action.

"By what we saw on the footage, she was dragged off the train. She wasn't escorted," Anderson's  son, Kenny Anderson, 42, told ABC News. "She was just singing to the Lord, preaching to the Lord, and he grabbed her bag and drug her off the train."

Miami-Dade County commissioner Audrey Edmonson said she has requested an investigation and that the private security guard will be banned from working in any county-owned facility.

"I think that that is something we should not tolerate,"  Edmonson told ABC News' Miami affiliate. "From what I witnessed on the video, I was appalled. Appalled that we as a county could hire a security company who has a lack of sensitivity."

Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos issued a statement apologizing to Anderson and saying the "situation should have been handled with more care and common sense."

Miami-Dade Transit officials have expressed regret that Anderson had to be escorted off the train, but said she was not following transit rules, which prohibit singing.

The Anderson family said they have hired an attorney and plan to pursue legal action.