After a 4th grade child was called the “n-word” during recess at the Madeleine School, a K-8, the principal, Tresa Rast reported the incident to his parents. Alarmed, the parents Karis Stoudamire-Phillips and Mike Phillips immediately went to the school. They asked Rast what she was going to do and how was she addressing racism at the school. Rast’s response? She called 911 and requested police to come to the school to remove the parents.
As Mike told the Oregonian:
“You have to understand that a Black man having the cops called on him is a totally different implication,” Phillips said. “It’s a complete abuse of power, a ‘Look what I have over you.’”
Just two days later, the investigation into the racial epithet was closed by the school administration without any action taken. The day after that, at 5 pm, the school’s priest Father Bonaventure Rummell emailed the family a terse letter expelling their 10-year-old from the school. The priest declared that the relationship with the family “is hereby immediately terminated.” The Father made no attempt to speak with the Stoudamire-Phillips family prior to his letter stating, “This decision is final, and from our perspective this matter is now concluded.” As the Oregonian reported:
“I have a little kid that’s wondering, ‘Why doesn’t this school love me?” Stoudamire-Phillips said. “He asked me that to my face with tears in his eyes.”
"This is not just a moral failure — it’s an institutional one," said Bonnie Richardson, civil rights attorney representing the family. "The administration is not only allowing this kind of racialized language to go unchecked but punishing the very students and families who are brave enough to speak out."
Parents and community members report additional cases of:
• Disparate disciplinary treatment for African-American students
• Dismissive responses to complaints of racial harassment
• A hostile climate toward racial equity and diversity initiatives
Despite mounting pressure, the administration continues to uphold the dismissal and deny any wrongdoing.
“We are exploring every available avenue, including legal action, to ensure our clients’ rights are fully protected. If the school administration continues down this path, we will not hesitate to pursue justice through the courts,” said attorney Bonnie Richardson.
Read the full article here.