Civil-rights group calls on South Pasadena Unified to act after reported racist incidents; asks for training and revised policies

Connie Chung Jo, CEO of Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California, told the South Pasadena Unified School District board Tuesday she has received reports of several racist and xenophobic incidents at both the middle and high schools and urged immediate district action.

Chung Jo said one middle-school incident involved a group of girls who told another student "go back to China" and threatened deportation. At the high school she described a science project that used a sombrero-and-maracas caricature to depict an infection in a class booklet and said students have used terms such as "border hoppers." She said teachers have sometimes dismissed or failed to address those expressions immediately.

"It makes me extremely sad to be here to report that I've heard several disturbing cases of racist and xenophobic expression by students," she said, and asked the district to take immediate steps: review and clarify policies and reporting protocols; train teachers and administrators on recognizing and responding to hate incidents (including when the act is committed by a student of the same race as the target); provide age-appropriate lessons for students about racism and xenophobia; and post resources such as "hate-free zone" signage on campuses.

Chung Jo offered her organization's assistance in providing resources and training.

The district heard a number of public commenters on student wellbeing and technology policy during the meeting. Board members later reiterated district values of equity and inclusion and said there is no place for hate in the schools, and the board accepted Chung Jo's recommendations for consideration in district policy and training planning. No formal board action was taken on the specific requests at Tuesday's meeting.