A group of Asian American high school students in Northern California were sent anonymous messages on social media filled with racist slurs and comments telling them that weren’t welcome at the school.
The high school is located in Rocklin, California, a city in Placer County, about 20 miles from Sacramento.
Whitney High School launched an investigation after the school’s Asian Youth Leadership Association club reported the anonymous Instagram account that had sent them the hate messages.
In March and Februay of 2020, Stop AAPI Hate Reporting Center received 1,691 reports of anti-Asian discrimination in California.
Any students identified as involved in sending the messages will be “disiciplined,” according to Sundeep Dosanjh, the school district’s spokesperson said, according to the Sacramento Bee.
CBS Sacramento reports that the messages contained a hateful cartoon and words, along with racial slurs used against people of Chinese descent, as well as the message to the students that they “aren’t welcome at Whitney and y’all know it.”
“Rocklin Unified School District is disturbed and saddened by the hate crimes and discrimination members of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community are experiencing,” Dosanjh said in the statement. “Rocklin Unified School District prioritizes anti-bullying, equity, and inclusivity on all of its campuses and is committed to provide a positive, safe, and welcoming atmosphere where students can unite, respect, and celebrate the diverse school community through school events.”