WESTERN SPRINGS, Ill. (WLS) — As a gesture of delight and advocacy, Lyons Township High School South sophomore Heavyn Washington posted an image and caption to her private Snapchat for Black History Month.

“I posted a picture of the Civil Rights Movement and I said ‘Happy Black History Month. And don’t forget to keep advocating for Black lives,'” she mentioned.

Almost immediately, she mentioned, the feedback lit up with venomous racist tropes; phrases too denigrating to say or present on tv, or reprint right here. Among the tropes referenced had been cotton, bananas and weapons.

“It’s… it’s horrible. I don’t understand why people act that way,” Washington mentioned. “Especially during Black History Month, or in general. It’s disgusting.”

“I could not believe that these things were coming out of the mouths of children from the community,” mentioned Sanita Lewis. “These aren’t strangers. These are people that she went to grammar school with, middle school with.”

Lewis’ daughter Olivia is an in depth buddy of Washington. They had been each immediately pissed off.

“Really, what I felt was I was angry. I was angry that it was allowed, I was angry that these children feel empowered by whomever to make these types of statements,” Lewis mentioned.

The Snapchat incident occurred final Friday. Then Lewis’ daughter went to highschool Monday.

“Monday was when she told me she came to school and was called the n-word walking through the hall,” Lewis mentioned.

“I feel like I’m not welcome, and that if I go to school I’m in some type of danger simply because of how mean and aggressive they are when they say these things,” Olivia Williams mentioned.

“I feel like a lot of people, minority especially, who go to a predominantly white institution feel like their voice doesn’t matter and they have to be silent, when that’s not the answer,” mentioned Washington.

Lyons Township High School South officers despatched a message to highschool neighborhood members on Feb. 4 saying they had been “aware of social media posts circulating among our students and parents. The communications/posts…contain racist and hate-filled language that has impacted our learning environment.”

The college mentioned it then took measures to convey college students and workers collectively to interact in what the varsity known as a therapeutic circle.

Officials went on to say the varsity will “continue to be relentless in our pursuit of creating an inclusive school culture that focuses on belonging, respect, equity and empathy…LTHS does not tolerate any language, behavior or action that fails to support these ideals.”

Washington, Williams and Lewis mentioned for the tradition of racism the women have endured, it is not sufficient.

“What do you do for Black History Month? How do you acknowledge African Americans in history, in the world, in your community?” Lewis questioned.

Both college students mentioned they intend to remain in class there, and proceed talking up after they encounter these sorts of confrontation.

Full February 4 response from college officers

We are reaching out at present as it’s so necessary to incorporate all members of our neighborhood as we work to help our college students by means of an incident that has brought about hurt and made many really feel unwelcome right here at LT.

We are conscious of social media posts circulating amongst our college students and oldsters. The communications/posts, which seem to have been shared by LTHS college students, comprise racist and hate stuffed language that has impacted our studying surroundings at present.

Our staff is presently working to research the state of affairs, acquire further info, and help college students who’ve been impacted. Please know we’re collaborating with the Western Springs Police Department as we work to appropriately reply to this incident.

These varieties of conditions reinforce the significance of the relationships we preserve with college students, particularly because it pertains to college security. Each pupil, mother or father and workers member performs an necessary function, and we’re appreciative of everybody’s efforts.

Lyons Township High School will proceed to be relentless in our pursuit of making an inclusive college tradition that focuses on belonging, respect, fairness, and empathy. We will proceed to face in opposition to all types of habits and rhetoric which can be hurtful, discriminatory, and/or racist. To that finish, please know that LTHS doesn’t tolerate any language, habits or motion that fails to help these beliefs.

We are working as a collective college neighborhood to domesticate a tradition of belonging, and we’ll proceed to supply alternatives for pupil voice, particularly as we navigate by means of difficult occasions as a college neighborhood.

Full February 8 response from college officers

Our staff continues to work to research the state of affairs, acquire further info, and help college students who’ve been impacted.

As we proceed our work as a collective college neighborhood to domesticate a tradition of belonging, we’ll proceed to supply alternatives for pupil voice, particularly as we navigate by means of difficult occasions as a college neighborhood. Yesterday, throughout 4th and fifth hour lunch durations, college students and workers at South Campus had the chance to come back to the Library to interact in a Healing Circle. An announcement was shared within the morning to let college students know concerning the alternative. This gave college students a possibility to share, mirror and learn the way we are able to heal collectively as a neighborhood. North Campus hosted a Healing Circle after college for college kids and workers within the Library; an announcement was made to tell our North Campus college students and workers. Additionally, we shared sources with our academics as they proceed to construct their data and help college students within the classroom.

As I shared beforehand, Lyons Township High School will proceed to be relentless in our pursuit of making an inclusive college tradition that focuses on belonging, respect, fairness, and empathy. We will proceed to face in opposition to all types of habits and rhetoric which can be hurtful, discriminatory, and/or racist. To that finish, please know that LTHS doesn’t tolerate any language, habits or motion that fails to help these beliefs.