Traverse City Area Public Schools’ passed an anti-racism resolution late Monday night, after hearing hours of public comment over how strong a stance the district should take.
In April, several Traverse City students participated in a Snapchat group purporting to be a “Slave Trade” where white students assigned bids and sold some minority students. After the public fallout, the school board wanted to make it clear that racism wouldn’t be tolerated.
At the school board meeting, hundreds of parents, teachers and students crowded into the conference room, and many shared stories of racism and discrimination.
Among them was a rising junior Nevaeh Wharton, who was the subject of the Snapchat group.
“I’m here in support of strengthening the resolution and in encouraging our community to speak up and resolve this issue,” Wharton said.
But other community members fought the idea that racism education needs to be emphasized more in schools.
Grand Traverse County resident Katie Niss spoke out against the schools’ taking an anti-racist stance.
“And so if you vote for this, we’re going to do everything that we can to make sure that you won’t be re-elected," Niss said during the meeting.
The board eventually agreed on a statement that acknowledged that racism exists in the community and that the district condemns it.