More than 200 students walked out of class at an Alabama high school after they say they were told by school leaders to omit certain relevant events from an upcoming student-led Black History Month program.
However, school officials have denied the allegations even while acknowledging the need for students’ concerns to be heard.
Students told WBMA-TV they were ordered to leave out major historical moments, including slavery and the civil rights movement, from the program scheduled for Feb. 22 at Hillcrest High School in Tuscaloosa.
The students were told they “couldn’t talk about slavery and civil rights because one of our administrators felt uncomfortable,” according to Black History Month Program board member J’Niyah Suttles, a senior who participated in Wednesday’s walkout.
She said the direction from a school administrator left her hurt.
Tuscaloosa County Superintendent Dr. Keri Johnson, in a statement, denied allegations that an administrator told the students to leave out historical elements.
Johnson said the school system supports the students’ right to peacefully demonstrate.
The president of the Tuscaloosa Branch of the NAACP, Lisa Young, said the alleged direction was a disgrace.
She said she has asked to meet with Johnson but has yet to be given a date.
