SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Protests by current and former students of St. Francis High School [SFHS] along with activists took place Wednesday afternoon as the private school deals with a new round of racial incidents among students.
A white student altered a selfie to show herself in blackface to impersonate a Black classmate. Blackface is considered to be offensive and dates back to before the Civil War, a time where Black people were considered property and excluded from rights and opportunities afforded to white Americans.
Following the protests, St. Francis High School said in a press release that the student caught with blackface is "no longer a student at the school."
"The recent events taken by a SFHS student were completely unacceptable, and we are disheartened by the student’s behavior. The student’s actions were addressed immediately, and the disciplinary measures were in accordance with the SFHS Racial Reconciliation Plan and SFHS Student Policy," the press release said.
A rally at East Portal Park began at 10:30 a.m. when a group of students, alumni and the Black Parent Group gathered before marching to St. Francis High School in Sacramento. At noon, the Black Parent Group held a press conference outside the school to address the photo and the school's history of racism. Members of Black Justice Sacramento, and additional social justice organizations, joined the protest as well.
16-year-old Zoraya Phillips spoke to the crowd during the rally at St. Francis. She grew up in San Jose and transferred to St. Francis last year. She said she quickly came to feel that her school was less inclined to hear Black students and students of color out.
"I never was surrounded by many white people and coming here it was a culture shock," Phillips explained.
She said she had spoken to high school staff about issues that had happened to her on campus and they were never addressed.
"I think one of the hardest experiences was a student coming up to me personally and they just pull and touch my hair," she explained. "I understand that I look different and I have different hair than you, but that does not give you permission to touch me."
Phillips said she wanted her school to take action and own up to issues she said had gone on too long.
"We need to put an end to it," she said. "If we ever send our kids to St. Francis, we don’t want them struggling with the same issues we have to now."
St. Francis will close the campus today through the end of the week. All classes will switch to distance learning and all after-school activities have been canceled.
The high school launched what they called the Racial Reconciliation Plan in response to other racial issues in 2020. Last week a St. Francis High School spokesperson released a statement calling the student's actions unacceptable and disciplinary actions were taken.
The spokesperson also said there is still more that needs to done to honor the school's commitment to supporting healing for students and families of color, specifically their Black and African-American students.
"I want to acknowledge how incredibly upsetting this is for everyone," Principal Elias Mendoza said in a letter to the school."
READ PREVIOUS STORIES FROM ABC10:
- St. Francis High School student accused of bullying classmate, wearing blackface
- St. Francis High School students, alumni speak out against racism in schools
- St. Francis High students petition school to address racism on campus
- Students, alumni of Sacramento private high schools speak up against racism and discrimination on campus
- St. Francis HS said 'We see you. We hear you.' But current, former students of color say otherwise
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