Bo Tefu and Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media
Last week, Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond denounced hate crimes in schools following a racist and homophobic incident that occurred at a Culver City school.
At a press conference on Aug. 8, Thurmond joined the Culver City Unified School District (CCUSD), the County of Los Angeles Commission on Human Relations, other state officials and community leaders to urge students and families to support state-led efforts to end hate crime in their communities.
At the event, Thurmond referenced the Los Angeles County vs. Hate Initiative, a campaign that connects students to resources and programs that promote safety and anti-bias in-state public schools. Recently, L.A. County officials worked with partners to expand programs and make resources available in all 80 school districts across the county.
“We must push back against hatred,” said Thurmond. “Especially when acts of hate occur in our schools, we must address them head-on.
In July, two boys were arrested at the Culver City school after officers found a broken classroom window and graffiti in various areas of the school. The officers also uncovered hate speech against Black People and LGBTQ individuals. The two boys were arrested and later released to their parents, authorities stated.
Police later revealed that the two boys reside in L.A. and neither one of them attended schools in Culver City.
Triston Ezidore, a CCUSD board member, commended local government and school district officials for taking action to promote safety at public schools.
“This is what happens when elected officials at every single level of government together with everyday neighbors with our teachers, our students, our faith-based organizations, and community partners to tackle the very pressing issue of hate at our schools,” said Ezidore.
Thurmond reinforced the State’s Education to End Hate initiative, a program that has allotted $20 million for school districts to implement anti-racism and anti-bias initiatives in public schools. California school district superintendents, county superintendents, and charter school administrators can receive up to $20,000 for each approved proposal submitted to the state Department of Education.
