2nd racist video by Greenwood Village middle School Students Draws Ire From Parents, Calls for Cherry Creek Schools Action

by Dave Perry at The Sentinel 

2nd racist video by Greenwood Village middle school students draws ire from parents, calls for Cherry Creek schools action

AURORA | Parents are demanding more action from Cherry Creek School District leaders as a second racist video made by students has circulated on social media.

“We will not tolerate hate in the Cherry Creek School District,” Superintendent Chris Smith said during a board of education meeting Monday evening. He added that parents, teachers and principals should hold themselves and students accountable for their actions.

At least half-dozen parents spoke about racism in the district and the changes they want to see.

“We are collectively concerned and deeply saddened by recent anti-Black racism,” Samantha Schacher, a district parent, said during public comment about a video involving students from Campus Middle School in Greenwood Village. “We know that this is a systemic issue within the district.”

Schacher said that she, like many other parents, found out about the racist videos through social media and was “shocked and disappointed” that the school district “was not addressing it transparently with the community.”

Jennifer Ann Miller, who spoke during public comment, also advocated for greater transparency from the district. She said there should be a policy that informs parents of serious incidents while balancing students’ privacy.

“This enables more constructive dialogue and reduces speculation, rumors and a proliferation of fear and anger stemming from lack of information,” Miller said.

UnSuk Zucker, a district parent, thanked Smith for speaking out against the videos but said that they were “just the tip of the iceberg” and that it’s a symptom of systemic racism.

Outcry Monday was in response to a second recent video of middle school students making videos of themselves expressing racist sentiments and posting them on social media.

The most recent video is 35 seconds long and depicts at least two girls repeatedly blurting out variations of the “n-word,” according to the Rocky Mountain NAACP. The two girls are apparently drinking alcoholic beverages,” NAACP officials said, “and are students at Campus Middle School.”

Another video that circulated in November on social media is of a boy saying a racial slur, and saying that Black people should “not be alive right now.” The child, a student at West Middle School, also in Greenwood Village, also said that he hates the color of their skin.

Smith did not state at the board meeting if the students involved in the second video were disciplined. But district spokesperson Lauren Snell confirmed later that the students were disciplined. When responding to the first video, the district said that the student faced “significant discipline”, but they cannot discuss specifics of discipline due to students’ privacy rights.

“This has gone too far. We are calling for the parents of these young people to come meet with Rocky Mountain NAACP. We will not tolerate this behavior and it is time for the parents to come forward to apologize by action and word,” the Rocky Mountain NAACP said in a press statement on Nov. 30. “We are requesting the parents and young people to volunteer with the Rocky Mountain NAACP to progress our fight towards equity.”

Rashad Younger, spokesperson for the Rocky Mountain NAACP said that as of Dec. 12, the organization is still trying to get in contact with the families and wants them to issue a public apology.