Black students at Rowan University are holding a rally, alleging that their complaints of racist incidents have been ignored by the administration. Emma Lee/WHYY
July 9, 2024 Story by: Editor
(CBS DETROIT) — Five students’ parents in Livingston County schools have initiated a lawsuit claiming their children endured racial slurs and derogatory remarks from peers, with allegations that school officials did not adequately address the issue.
The lawsuit, filed this week by Marko Law, addresses incidents of alleged discrimination at Navigator Upper Elementary School and Pathfinder Middle School, part of the Pinckney Community Schools district.
Named defendants in the suit include the school district itself, Superintendent Rick Todd, Navigator Principal Janet McDole, and Pathfinder Principal Lori Sandula.
According to the lawsuit, students at these schools were subjected to racial epithets such as “cotton pickers,” “monkeys,” and the “N-word,” alongside receiving death threats based on their race. Despite awareness of these incidents, the lawsuit claims the school district turned a blind eye and failed to effectively address the racism.
The lawsuit notes that among the 2,332 students enrolled in Pinckney Community Schools, 92.3% are white.
During the 2022-23 school year, one student at Pathfinder Middle School allegedly faced derogatory comments, physical assault, and harassment that led her to hide in hallways to avoid encountering her harassers on her way to class, resulting in tardiness write-ups.
Another student reported experiencing racial slurs during the 2021-22 school year, including being taunted with “Wakanda forever my brother,” referencing the film “Black Panther.” The lawsuit states that incidents continued despite parental reports to school officials.
One instance detailed in the lawsuit involves students passing around a note labeled “N-word pass,” supposedly allowing its holders to use the racial slur freely. Although the teacher intercepted the note and reported it to the principal, the parents of the affected student were allegedly not informed, and racial harassment persisted.
The lawsuit further alleges that when parents confronted school officials about incidents involving racial slurs directed at their children, the responses were inadequate. McDole reportedly justified not informing parents about racial incidents to avoid negative attention and labels.
The lawsuit accuses Pinckney Community Schools of violating Title VI by perpetuating a racially hostile environment and failing to take corrective actions despite being aware of the issues.
In response to inquiries, Superintendent Rick Todd stated, “I just learned of this filing this morning via the media as I have not yet received any official notice and at this time, am not at liberty to speak on behalf of the lawsuit. Thank you for understanding.” Source: CBS News
