Skip to main content
U.S.

Virginia NAACP files suit against school board that restored Confederate names

Share

The Virginia chapter of the NAACP, along with five students, has announced plans to file a lawsuit against the Shenandoah County Public School Board on Tuesday, June 11. This federal lawsuit follows the board’s decision to reinstate Confederate names at two Virginia schools.

Media Landscape

MediaMiss™This story is a Media Miss by the right as only 0% of the coverage is from right leaning media. Learn more about this data
Left 50% Center 50% Right 0%
Bias Distribution Powered by Ground News

The lawsuit contends that the school board’s action to change the names has created “an unlawful and discriminatory educational environment for Black students.” The filing further alleges that the renaming violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution, as well as the Civil Rights Act of 1964’s Equal Education Opportunities Act.

QR code for SAN app download

Download the SAN app today to stay up-to-date with Unbiased. Straight Facts™.

Point phone camera here

In May, the board reversed its 2020 decision to rename Stonewall Jackson High School and Ashby-Lee Elementary School, a decision initially made during the Black Lives Matter protests after George Floyd’s death.

The reversal to Confederate names came after a conservative group, the Coalition for Better Schools, lobbied for the restoration, claiming that the names are a significant part of the community’s heritage — a sentiment reportedly shared by over 90% of the local residents in a poll.

“Students walking through the halls of the newly renamed Stonewall Jackson High School and Ashby Elementary School will be constantly reminded of Confederate legacies that enslaved and discriminated against people of African descent,” NAACP Chapter President Rev. Cozy Bailey said regarding the lawsuit. “This community deserves better.”

Tags: , , , , , ,

[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.”

FOR MORE STORIES AROUND THE NATION AND THE WORLD– GO TO SAN-DOT-COM OR DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP.