'Racism Has Got To Go': Andrew High School Students Protest After Racist Video, Fight

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CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Dozens of mostly Muslim students protested outside a southwest suburban high school Friday morning following a fight earlier this week over an anti-Muslim incident. “We are done being quiet. We are done letting people think we have no voice. We have a voice,” said Andrew High School sophomore Jackelyn Mubarak.There was a fight at the school this week, reportedly triggered by someone talking about a video produced last year showing someone at the school burning and stepping on a Koran. 

“They worry about vaping more than this happening. This has us feel(ing) down. It beaks my heart to even see this happening. It’s almost 2020 and this is still happening," Mubarak said.Julian Bazan said he was suspended for a week for his role in Wednesday’s fight. He said he had confronted a student who had been bragging about desecrating a Koran last year and videoing it.  

“They kept talking about it, talking about and saying how they would do it again," he said.Bazan said “racism is a big thing in this school right now.”  

“It’s a shame it had to escalate to this. I think they should have just punished both sides equally on the first day and it would never have to go to this level," he said.Hadeel said the administration has said it plans an assembly to address the situation in the not-too-distant future.On the school’s Twitter feed this morning, Principal Bob Nolting posted a video students produced last April titled “T-bolts Against Hate.”  The Tinley Park school’s nickname is the Thunderbolts.

#D230Thanks I am thankful for our students who created this video just six months ago. I am thankful for MAJORITY of Tbolts who live a life of acceptance and compassion each and every day. T bolts Against Hate https://t.co/9tDP6FDBuz via @YouTube

— Robert Nolting (@Rnolting21) November 15, 2019

The district and school release a joint statement and letter on Friday. You can read the full letter below:

Joint Statement from District 230 Superintendent of Schools Dr. James M. Gay and Andrew High School Principal Bob Nolting

Over the past couple of days, there have been several rumors regarding an altercation that took place at Andrew High School on Wednesday morning. We feel it is important to set the record straight regarding what did and did not take place here at Andrew High School.

Dr. James M. Gay, District 230 Superintendent

Bob Nolting, Andrew High School Principal