FAIRFIELD, Calif. — The NAACP is calling on the Department of Justice and U.S. Marshals to investigate an alleged hate crime at Vanden High School, to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Edward Russell Jr. grew up in East Oakland and attended San Leandro schools when they were predominantly white. He never thought his son would have to deal with an incidence of racism at his school.
“I’m emotionally spent. I’ve never felt this,” said Russell Jr.
Around March 2, Russell Jr. said that his son’s name was allegedly spraypainted on a baseball field wall with a swastika and derogatory language surrounding it.
He added that his son’s friend was also subjected to racist namecalling later that same month.
The students responsible were said to have been suspended for vandalism, however, Russell Jr. believes the actions constitute a hate crime.
“They still allow those people to be in the school with my son… and they put him in danger every single day,” Russell Jr. said. “That’s not right. It hurts my heart that he has to go through this.”
Since meeting with the school’s principal, Russell Jr. said that he wanted the students to be removed from school and the community informed.
While the San Francisco and Tri-Country branches of the NAACP are not pursuing legal action, they are pushing for justice officials to take action. The father advocated for a zero tolerance policy in schools that would prevent people from being "mean" and threatening people in schools.
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