Protest outside Phoenix-area school after racial slur photo

The photo shows several students from Desert Vista High School in Ahwatukee forming an apparent racial slur with letters and symbols on black T-shirts.

There’s an ongoing rumor that says the students have been suspended for five days, but the district has Tweeted this is incorrect.

Right before a rally organized by civil rights leaders got underway, the Tempe Union High School District leaders said they are just as outraged at a viral social media post containing a racial slur.

Dr. Anna Battle, assistant superintendent of district operations for the school district, said the offensive photo resulted from a game of “human Scrabble” after seniors gathered for a panoramic photo with the message “Best You’ve Seen Class of 2016” with an asterisk between each word. “Social media takes it and goes”. The names of the girls who wore the shirts have not been released by the school. We want to make it crystal clear those actions are unacceptable and will not be tolerated at Desert Vista. The 5-day suspension the students may be receiving is not enough for the disgusting racial slur the administration seems to be treating as a harmless prank. Barela also stated that the actions of the six senior girls does not represent who DVHS is as a campus.

“The event that took place today at Desert Vista will not be tolerated”. However, at some point the girls in the photo went off on their own and spelled out the slur. While we don’t discuss individual discipline, we can tell you that in addition, the obvious need for sensitivity training will be addressed.

Kenneth Baca, superintendent for the Tempe Union High School District, called the photo disappointing in a letter to parents.

A “community action officer” will be sent to the high school to speak with the girls in the photo and to “monitor the situation”. Does the punishment fit the crime?