Racism In Desert Vista High School: Parents Alert Media About Seniors’ Racist Photo

The battle against racism continues even in schools and social media. Parents alerted media when a group of high school seniors from the Desert Vista High School posted a racist photo on social media.

ABC15 reports that parents told them about six female high school seniors who posted a photo showing the girls smiling together with the offensive "N-I-*-*-E-R" word -- spelled out in individual letters across their shirts. It turns out that the shirts with different letters are just parts of a long message which was supposed to spell out "BEST*YOU'VE*EVER*SEEN*CLASS*OF*2016".

We are absolutely aware and outraged by this behavior," wrote Jill Hanks, executive director of community relations for Tempe Union High School District. "The students will be disciplined in accordance with district policy and while we don't discuss specific discipline I can tell you that will be addressing the obvious need for sensitivity training in this case."

Dr. Kenneth Baca from the Tempe Union High School District likewise commented that any racism is unacceptable whatever the intent is.

The principal of the high school, Dr. Christine Barela, also spoke against the offensive and racist photo from the students. She expressed through a letter sent to the parents of the school about the outrage and disappointment caused by the picture posted on social media. She also said that the school will give disciplinary actions for the six high school girls and will hold sensitivity training for the students.

Meanwhile, there is already a petition at change.org which calls for the expulsion of the high school seniors and the firing of the principal, with thousands of people already signed up. In a separate report from ABC15, the school officials said in a press conference that the students are remorseful for the racist photo and one of the girls even spoke publicly about her actions.

"I am incredibly, incredibly sorry. I have such love for everyone in my heart. I am not a racist and I am asking everyone for forgiveness," said Rachel Steigerwald, one of the six Desert Vista High School seniors accused of racism.