A Southern California community is in shock after Black students from a local elementary school allegedly received racist drawings on cards from fellow students in recognition of Black History Month.
Some of the alleged drawings of cotton balls with racist messages, and children illustrated to appear as monkeys. The cards included messages such as “you’re my favorite monkey.”
According to KTLA, one parent pulled her child from Pepper Tree Elementary School in Upland where the alleged incidents took place because she didn’t feel the school was responding appropriately.
In a video released on Friday, district board president Truman Garnett issued a statement.
“Recent racially insensitive, unacceptable incidents have taken place in our schools. We deeply regret the hurt that this behavior has caused our students, families, and our community,” Garnett said. “I want to make it perfectly clear that we have a strict zero-tolerance policy on any type of hate speech; harassment; discriminatory practices, behaviors; racial slurs; and any report of these actions will be investigated thoroughly and immediately,” he added.
Officials with Upland Unified School District responded to the outrage, saying the district would take disciplinary action if necessary.
Some parents said intend on being at at a school board meeting to discuss the issue, reported KTLA.
