On Wednesday, members of the NAACP and a key civil rights leader called for the San Francisco Unified School District to step up efforts to combat anti-Black language.
They gathered in front of the school district office, calling on the district to take additional action against anti-Black rhetoric and slurs targeting Black students.
They referenced one recent incident in which a student, they claim, used a hateful slur to describe Black students at Lincoln High School.
They say district leaders have been supportive of their calls to address the issue but also believe leadership at each individual school needs to reinforce the message that racial hate speech is not acceptable.
“We understand the students are planning a ‘Unity Day.’ We think that’s great,” Virginia Marshall with the NAACP Education Committee said. “We suggested it be in all the schools, so all the cultures can appreciate one another.”
They’re also asking the district to collect data on these incidents, including where they are occurring and how they are resolved.
In a statement, the district said it’s “…committed to cultivating a safe and welcoming environment,” adding, “…hate, harassment, and violence have no place in our schools.”
The district added it is aware of the recent incident and is meeting with families, students, and the NAACP and others to address the issue.