The fight continues!: Young voices speak up against racism and discrimination in Santa María
By: MICOP team
At a board meeting of the Santa Maria Joint Unified School District (SMJUHSD) that took place on September 10, 2024, several community members and non-profit organizations such as the Mixteco Indigenous Project (MICOP) took the space to advocate in solidarity with young students about the discrimination they suffer in schools. Sadly, the event had its own experience of discrimination from some members of its audience.
Indigenous students were interrupted during their testimony about their experiences with racism and discrimination in the Santa Maria Joint Unified School District (SMJUHSD). Members of the public who were supporting principal Shanda Herrera made unnecessary comments that interrupted the youth’s comments. Their comments consisted of discriminatory rhetoric such as “Are they even speaking English?”, “time is up,” and “that’s not true.”
The person making these comments, which were intended to provoke a reaction from the audience, was Stacy Newby who ironically was sitting next to Principal Herrera in support, whom the students were advocating against.
The population of students learning English as a second language (EL) and in individual education programs (IEPs) has historically been marginalized by the lack of attention to their needs. Unfortunately, these discriminatory events are the result of the chronic lack of consideration for the population of students in special education programs and English as a second language learners.
The co-coordinator of the Tequio youth group, Teresa Suárez, a program focused on empowering Indigenous students under the nonprofit organization Proyecto Mixteco Indígena (MICOP), reported how Newby’s presence and comments affected the students who gave speeches at the board meeting.
Suarez, specifically, mentioned how a youth member began crying after there was a confrontation between Newby and an audience member. Newby yelled at an elementary school boy and then, when confronted about her unprofessional actions, began yelling at a community member. Newby’s screams were so loud that the microphone on the other side of the room picked up her voice.
The interactions between the participants after the board meeting were very strong. Many of the participants, being members of the community, felt victimized by this racist and prejudiced rhetoric, which they are advocating against. Finally, several community members used their discontent to re-enter the board room and silently protest with the goal of demonstrating that the Latino/Indigenous community is not a community that surrenders to social injustices!