Officials investigating controversial post from RHS pep rally

STAFF REPORT
Posted 9/18/17

Officials investigating controversial post from RHS rally

Staff report

ROBERTSDALE — County and school officials are investigating after a social media post from a Robertsdale High School …

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Officials investigating controversial post from RHS pep rally

Posted

ROBERTSDALE, Alabama — County and school officials are investigating after a social media post from a Robertsdale High School pep rally Friday sparked controversy over the weekend.

The Instagram post shows two Robertsdale High School students, one holding a sign that reads “Put the Panic back in Hispanic,” and another holding a Donald Trump, “Make America Great Again” banner, standing with the RHS mascot. Underneath the photo reads, “Put the Panic back in Hispanic” (fist-bump emoji) #dontgetButthurt (I’m honestly not gonna care if you do anyways so!!) #sorryboutit. (laughing and crying emoji and what appears to be a girl with hands on her head).

The photo was reposted by a fellow student with the comment “This happened yesterday at our school pep rally. They know it’s Hispanic Month. That’s very disrespectful in so many ways. But it’s funny to think that our school thinks it ‘OKAY’ this is Honestly what white trash looks like.”

The post has since been reposted more than 2,500 times and while have been a few comments in the students’ defense, most are calling for action from the school and from the Baldwin County School System.

Soon after, Baldwin County School Superintendent Eddie Tyler issued a response on social media, “We are aware of a photo that appears to be taken at a Robertsdale High School football pep rally Friday Sept. 15 that is circulating on social media containing political banners and unacceptable language. School administrators, as well as my office, are following up on the matter.”

In an email on Tuesday, which was sent to all BCBE employees, parents, key communicators and media, Tyler issued a follow-up statement both in English and in Spanish.

“The picture of these two signs together has created a firestorm of controversy,” he said. “In light of DACA and the immigration debates underway in this country I can understand why. I am not going to debate but I do want to speak to the community about who we are and what we stand for.”

The Baldwin County Public School System has one of the highest Hispanic enrollments of any school system in Alabama, the letter states. Robertsdale is among the highest in Baldwin County because of the many migrant workers who enter our country to work for local farmers in our fields. Baldwin County’s ESL (English as a second language program) has been recognized by the state department of education for its excellence.

“Not only do we work hard to provide for these members of our community, but they are hugged on and loved every day not just by their teachers but by their friends where they go to school,” he said.

Recently the Baldwin County Coliseum was opened as a storm shelter to more than 400 evacuees from Florida. People came from all walks of life, many of whom were Hispanic and nearly all without much financial support.

“Our parents and kids donated and volunteered to help these families who were misplaced during their time here to the point that officials asked us to call off and redirect that call for help, because what being delivered was too much to process,” Tyler states. “Unfortunate things happen. Sometimes young kids, young adults, say things they shouldn’t say or in a way that can become controversial. Sometimes we don’t see a context that someone else might see. I also know that you can’t judge, or should not judge, a community by one picture, regardless of what the sign says.”

Tyler said he has received an overwhelming number of emails since the Friday incident.

“Many have been calling for expulsion, lengthy suspension, banishment from all school related activities and to my disappointment several were very ‘hateful’ in nature,” he said. “How ironic. There was one from a young lady out of state that simply said, ‘Mr. Tyler, I believe that you have a teachable moment here.’

Local television media reported that a statement has been issued through a “family attorney” from one of the students involved issuing an apology for the post.

After identifying herself as the student who held the “Panic” sign, she wrote:

“Sir I would like to inform you that, that wasn’t my intention and was not meant for it to be taken that way. We played the Spanish Fort Toros on Friday night, I was meaning “panic the Toros” considering when I think Spanish I think Mexican or Hispanic.

“When I realized how people were taking it, I wasn’t going to bring it. But my friend who had it in his truck brought it to the bleachers, when one of the boys sitting near me saw it and held it up.

“I do apologize for making our school look bad and I do understand any consequences I must face. But I also believe in my right of speech. I did not mean it in any kind of racial way, half of my family are Hispanic. Thank you for your time reading this, I apologize for all the publicity and misunderstandings this has brought to our school.”

There has been no word yet if any official action will be taken in the matter, but Tyler ended his email address with a message to students, faculty and employees.

“… we are all affected by the actions of those around us when those actions inflict pain, and we must be accountable for our actions.”