January 30th 2025.
A recent lawsuit has shed light on a troubling situation within a Pennsylvania school district. According to the Miami Herald, two brothers, who are students at Cumberland Valley School District in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, have filed a federal lawsuit on January 24th alleging racial discrimination within the district. The lawsuit outlines various incidents that the brothers claim demonstrate the district's discriminatory practices. This includes an accusation that a high school math teacher held up a photo of a monkey in class and compared it to two Black students, one of whom is involved in the lawsuit.
The brothers' attorney, Nicholas Miller, explains that this incident had a profound effect on the student and sparked his frustration with the school district. Miller states, "It was such an emotional reaction that he had to be compared to a picture of a monkey that that kind of ... really started his reaction toward the school district." This was just one of several incidents outlined in the lawsuit, which also includes claims that the older brother was moved to the front of the bus on his first day of school, along with other Black students, to be monitored. The following school year, a bus driver allegedly made a derogatory comment to the older brother's white girlfriend, stating that she was "too good to be with someone like him" because of his race.
The discrimination did not stop there. The older brother, who has a learning disability, was continuously singled out because of his race, causing his frustration with teachers, administrators, and fellow students to intensify. According to the lawsuit, the discrimination even extended to his younger brother, who also became a target. The frustration reached a breaking point when the older brother was unable to receive the necessary support for his learning disability, and instead of receiving help, he was labeled as an "angry Black youth." Meanwhile, white students were provided with the necessary support and able to advance in their studies.
Miller expresses his disbelief at the situation, saying, "The fact that somebody can be labeled as that without looking at the environment, it's absolutely ridiculous." Other incidents listed in the lawsuit include the older brother being suspended after confronting a white student who had threatened him with a gun in a text message. In another instance, the older brother was placed in an "illegal and criminal restraint hold" during a dispute with a white student.
Sadly, the younger brother also experienced discrimination and mistreatment at the school. The lawsuit alleges that both brothers have been deprived of their right to free speech and fear retaliation, causing them emotional distress. This is not the first time the school district has been accused of racial discrimination, as another lawsuit was filed just three months prior. This previous lawsuit involved a Black cheerleader who faced discrimination, and her parents were allegedly chased and threatened by a school board member and a family member of the head cheerleading coach after bringing the issue to the school board's attention.
It is disheartening to see such discrimination and mistreatment within a school district. Students should feel safe and supported in their learning environment, regardless of their race. The school district must take responsibility for its actions and work towards creating a more inclusive and equal environment for all students.
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