Virginia NAACP files suit against school board that restored Confederate names

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

THE VIRGINIA CHAPTER OF THE N-DOUBLE-A-C-P AND FIVE STUDENTS ARE SUING OVER PLANS TO RESTORE CONFEDERATE NAMES TO A PAIR OF VIRGINIA SCHOOLS.

THE FEDERAL SUIT ARGUES THE SHENANDOAH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD CREATED “AN UNLAWFUL AND DISCRIMINATORY EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT FOR BLACK STUDENTS” WITH THE NAME CHANGE. IT ALSO CLAIMS THE MOVE VIOLATES THE FIRST AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS AND THE EQUAL EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES ACT.

IN MAY, THE SCHOOL BOARD REVERSED A 2020 DECISION TO RENAME STONEWALL JACKSON HIGH SCHOOL AND ASHBY-LEE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.  THE INITIAL NAME CHANGE CAME AMID PRESSURE DURING B-L-M PROTESTS FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD. 

THE BOARD’S DECISION TO REVERT TO THE CONFEDERATE NAMES FOLLOWED CALLS FROM A CONSERVATIVE LOCAL GROUP KNOWN AS COALITION FOR BETTER SCHOOLS ADVOCATING FOR THE NAMES TO BE RESTORED.

THE GROUP ARGUED THE LEGACIES OF THE MEN ARE PART OF THE COMMUNITY’S HERITAGE– CITING A POLL SHOWING MORE THAN 90 PERCENT OF RESIDENTS SUPPORTED KEEPING THE NAMES.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE N-DOUBLE-A-C-P CHAPTER SAID IN A STATEMENT ABOUT THE LAWSUIT:

“WHEN STUDENTS WALK THROUGH THE HALLS OF RENAMED STONEWALL JACKSON HIGH SCHOOL AND ASHBY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, THEY WILL DO SO WITH INESCAPABLE REMINDERS OF CONFEDERATE LEGACIES THAT ENSLAVED AND DISCRIMINATED AGAINST AFRICAN-DESCENDED PEOPLE. THIS COMMUNITY DESERVES BETTER.”

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