Racial Discord: Ithaca School Leaders Targeted After Affirmative Action Challenge
In a disturbing turn of events, officials from the Ithaca City School District (ICSD) have reported receiving racist and threatening messages following a contentious lawsuit challenging affirmative action policies.
Superintendent Luvelle Brown and Board of Education President Sean Eversley Bradwell, both African American, disclosed the alarming incidents during recent public statements.
Bradwell addressed the threats during a school board meeting, revealing that both he and Brown had been subjected to a barrage of hate-filled messages, including death threats and derogatory slurs.
These messages arrived shortly after an anti-affirmative action group filed a lawsuit against the district, alleging discriminatory practices against white students.
The lawsuit gained national attention, focusing on an event poster promoting the school’s Students of Color United Summit.
Initially targeted at students of color, the poster sparked controversy but was later amended by a district-wide email welcoming all students to attend.
Bradwell recounted the nature of the threats received, which included explicit language and racially motivated insults aimed at both officials.
The severity of the threats prompted the district to involve local law enforcement to ensure the safety of those targeted.
In one of the voicemail recordings shared by Brown, a caller used offensive language directed at him, along with derogatory remarks about minority students.
According to the source, the caller, claiming to be a concerned citizen, threatened repercussions for Brown’s leadership decisions within the district.
Reflecting on the distress caused by these events, Brown cited the emotional toll and the impact on his decision not to extend his contract beyond 2028.
He described the leadership role as physically and emotionally taxing, exacerbated by the recent influx of hateful messages and threats.
The messages coincided with a period of heightened scrutiny and public criticism during the district’s budget discussions earlier in the year.
Although the exact origin of the threatening calls remains unclear, the incidents have underscored broader issues of racial tension and intolerance within the community.
The Ithaca Voice, a local news outlet, has initiated efforts to obtain additional records of threatening messages directed at school personnel and board members.
The district is currently processing this request as part of its commitment to transparency amid these troubling developments.
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