Hundreds of pupils at an Oregon high school staged a walkout on Wednesday in response to a video that was posted on social media of some students using racial slurs.
The post originated on Instagram and surfaced over the Thanksgiving weekend, according to Tigard High School’s online student publication The Paw.
It was shared by a student at the school, and “targeted no specific individuals but rather targeted their communities as a whole,” the publication reported.
According to KGW, some Tigard students could be heard using slurs against Muslim, Black and Asian people in the video, which also made its way to TikTok.
The incident prompted hundreds of students to walk out of class in protest shortly after 11 a.m. on Wednesday and gather to discuss their experiences with racism and discrimination at the school.
Some said they had been been on the receiving end of racial insults at school.
“You can’t even walk 15 feet without being called a racial slur,” Jordyn Smith, a student, told KGW. “It’s not OK to be called the n-word, to be called monkeys, to be called anything to anyone. It’s not OK at all.”
Tigard-Tualatin School District Superintendent Sue Rieke-Smith told the station that the video had left her feeling disgusted and disappointed.
Rieke-Smith was at the school to hear what students had to say, and said the school will provide safe spaces for students to discuss the incident as well as provide staff with training to help them recognize and stop microaggressions and hate speech.
“It’s the beginning of a much larger process to get at this issue and do it in a way that brings everyone along with us,” Rieke-Smith told the station.
It wasn’t immediately clear what disciplinary action the students involved will face, but students taking part in the walkout have called for those in the video to be suspended.
Letter From the Principal
In a letter to students and staff, Tigard High School’s principal Brian Bailey said the school will address the incident with “new learning, unlearning, re-educating and accountability for those who caused harm.”
Bailey added that space and resources will be provided to students “to unpack the harm this incident caused.”
“This situation in no way represents our districts’ values or our commitment to ensuring every student that walks through our doors feels welcome, respected, and safe,” the principal added.
Tigard High School and Rieke-Smith have been contacted for additional comment.
iStock
