San Diego community leaders and concerned residents attended a forum yesterday to discuss the recent rash of hate crimes in the Poway Unified School District. Many people at the meeting believe the incidents reveal an underlying racism in that community. KPBS Reporter Ana Tintocalis has the story.
The community forum took place at the Malcolm X Library in South San Diego. Once people took their chairs and formal introductions were made, things got a lot more serious.
Late last year Poway was rocked by a series of racial incidents at three of its high schools. Nooses were found on two campuses. A swastika and profanity were found on a window at another campus.
Seventeen-year-old Ashley Grishom was involved in one of the incidents. She was the only black student who landed a part in a school play at Rancho Bernado High. She says a day before the first performance, she found a noose hanging from the rafters.
Grishom: I was afraid because a noose -- everything that it symbolizes. There are only two things -- a threat or actual death if they're handing, you so I was scared out of my mind.
Grishom says racial slurs were also written on the stage. She took pictures of what she saw and went straight to her parents. That's when they contacted Danell Willis of the Concerned Parent Alliance. The alliance is represents minority students and their families.
Willis says there've been rumors of racial tension at Poway schools. She's glad it’s finally out in the open.
Willis: When we moved to Poway it was made very clear, there is a right way a wrong way and a Poway. I think it’s full of people who have been there that aren't used to change. And so we can say we heard about this and that. But now we have something tangible that we could take to them and say this is not rumor anymore, this is a fact.
San Diego's black community leaders have since rallied behind Grishom. They’re calling on the school board to adopt a stricter anti-hate policy that imposes serious consequences for offenders. The school board has already revised its policy. But it’s scheduled to vote at its next meeting on whether to strengthen the policy further.
In the meantime, 17-year-old Ashley Grishom says she still hasn't had an apology from school officials at Rancho Bernardo High. But she says that doesn't matter. She just hopes other students will feel more comfortable coming forward.
Grishom: Because a lot of people are so afraid to speak out -- nothing has happened. I would rather them be upset that I spoke out then satisfied that I didn't.
People at the meeting hope Poway school board members will set an example by taking a tougher stance to eliminate prejudice from their schools.
Ana Tintocalis, KPBS News.
