St. Hubert High School has expelled the three students who appeared in a social media video in which one sprays black paint on another’s face and calls her a slave who should do her laundry.
The video, which did not take place in school, also includes two girls filming the incident.
“I’m black and I’m proud,” said the girl who was spray painted.
One of the girls attended Franklin Towne. That school posted a statement that read, “The Franklin Towne Community is both saddened and appalled by the events surrounding the racist video that has been on social media. We want to again take this opportunity to condemn this type of hateful behavior and condemn anyone involved in it. Franklin Towne is a school that values inclusion and will not tolerate hate in any manner. The former student who took part in this video, and any other students who may choose to participate in this type of behavior have no place at our school. The content of this video does not reflect the values and culture of our Towne family.”
St. Hubert’s statement, signed by president Lizanne Pando and principal Gina MacKenzie, read, “The severity of the situation at hand demanded and the repugnant nature of the behavior on the part of some of our students demanded that we swiftly conduct a thorough investigation that examined all possible facts. That process has concluded. As a result, the young women who (are) responsible for this situation have been identified and they are no longer members of this school community.”
St. Hubert officials are working with the Archbishop’s Commission on Racial Healing and the Office for Black Catholics.
The Anti-Defamation League will be offering Anti-Bias Workshops with St. Hubert faculty, staff and administration on Feb. 20. The school will also offer the peer-based training program that will lead to its designation as a No Place for Hate school.
Soon after the video surfaced, protesters gathered outside St. Hubert carrying signs such as, “Condemn and Confront White Supremacy.”
Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission executive director Chad Dion Lassiter said of St. Hubert in a statement, “While I was pleased to see an immediate response from the school saying they will investigate, it is imperative that they take appropriate action to ensure that students know the racist background of ‘blackface.’ The PHRC extends an offer to St. Hubert Catholic School to provide bias and cultural sensitivity training for staff and students. These types of trainings have been offered to schools in the past who have had similar challenges.”
Archbishop Nelson Perez said in a statement, “As I’ve said before many times, racism is a mortal sin and an attack on the integrity of God’s most precious gift, that of human life. Racism is a vile evil. It has no place in our hearts, our lives, our Church, or our schools.” ••
