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Racist post by Issaquah High student sparks outrage
A recent post by a local high school student has sparked outrage.
ISSAQUAH, Wash. -- The Issaquah School District is investigating after a racist post involving two of its students spread on social media.
The post -- initially made on Snapchat -- includes a photo of a high school boy and girl holding a sign about a "Tolo" dance, a dance in which a girl traditionally asks a boy to accompany her to the dance.
"If I was black I'd be picking cotton, but instead I pick you. Tolo?"
The poster has caused a big stir online and has been viewed thousands of times. Q13 has blurred the faces of the students involved because they are minors.
“We are deeply troubled, discouraged and, quite frankly, appalled by the racially insensitive social media post involving Issaquah High School students," Issaquah School District Superintendent Dr. Ron Thiele said.
The Issaquah School District has responded to the post with the following statement:
School officials aren't the only ones speaking out about the racially insensitive post.
The Seattle-King County NAACP and Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin have each weighed in on the issue.
"The message was insensitive and extremely hurtful, and has the Seattle King County NAACP highly concerned with the potential gap in diversity trainings in school districts around our state," Seattle King County NAACP President Sadiqa Sakin said.
Baldwin, meanwhile, took to Twitter to voice his disappointment.
"I am saddened that this idea was thought of and executed without intervention. Racism is not just taught, it is encouraged through its tolerance. Let’s take this as a reminder not only to be more empathetic but to hold each other more accountable," he said.