Jefferson Hills students demand board member step down for alleged racist comments

JEFFERSON HILLS, Pa. — Students are protesting in Jefferson Hills and demanding a board member in the West Jefferson Hills School District step down for allegedly making racist comments.

The group “Black Students Alliance” and its many supporters gathered Friday morning outside Thomas Jefferson High School demanding the board member step down after they claim she went on a racist rant on Facebook.

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The group began by walking to the school with signs, many of them chanting that Black lives and Black students matter.

That board member has not been identified, and district officials told Channel 11 that despite calls for her removal, they have no legal authority to do so.

It’s unclear what the board member is accused of saying in those Facebook posts as well.

The school district issued the following statement regarding the protest:

“The West Jefferson Hills School District has been asked for a statement addressing a Petition to Remove one of its members from the Board. The Board of School Directors of West Jefferson Hills School District has no legal authority to remove any member of the Board. Each Board member has been elected by and serves at the pleasure of the residents. Every member of the West Jefferson Hills School District Board of Directors has supported ongoing efforts during the last 4+ years to ensure equity, diversity and inclusion for all of its students, in particular, minority students in the District. These efforts have included training of staff to combat racism and student programs to promote mutual respect among all students. The Board anticipates continuing this work with all of its current members and supports the efforts of individual Board members to reach out to the community to improve dialogue and further the mission of these programs.”

Zyniah Barrett, a TJ senior and member of the Black Student Alliance, told Channel 11 a few of things the board member posted had to do with the Black Lives Matter movement.

“She made about 24 points. One of the points was Black Lives Matter, however all lives matter. And Black Lives Matter is a terrorist organization. There were a lot of other points that were in there specifically targeting Black students,” Barrett said.

And although district officials said there is nothing they can do, those who protested Friday said the issue is bigger than just this one incident.

They told Channel 11 that Black students in the district have endured racism and discrimination for years.

“The school has failed to protect all of their Black students. They have failed to stand up for their Black students. They have failed to recognize their Black students and they have failed to make change,” said Barrett.

Jefferson Hills students demand board member step down for alleged racist comments Jefferson Hills students demand board member step down for alleged racist comments

Cox Media Group