PLYMOUTH (WWJ) - Parents of students attending Plymouth-Canton school district expressed frustration, concern and outrage after an online video surfaced showing a student threatening to harm and kill Black classmates.
Canton police told WXYZ that authorities are currently investigating the video and will send the case to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Officer once its been finalized.
Parents expressed their outrage over the video, calling it "disgusting," "horrible," and "painful."
The video was made a posted online in early March, but it recently caught the attention of students and parents on Monday. In the video, a white high school student filmed himself threatening to lynch, "curb-stomp" and kill Black students.
The student also uses the N-word several times through the duration of the clip.
“I was disgusted, I was angry,” one parent expressed to WXYZ.
“It created just a pain in my heart that this is what my child, as a teenager, is experiencing at a place where she’s supposed to be learning and growing,” the parent said to WXYZ.
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Parents who shared their reactions to the media outlet asked to remain anonymous to protect their children from possible repercussions at school, where racism, they said, is a normal occurrence.
One parent said her daughter doesn't like how frequently she experiences racism.
"She says this happens all the time at the park," her mother said.
"It's horrible," another parent said. "It makes me feel like my daughter is not safe going to school.”
School district Superintendent Monica Merritt did release a statement to parents on Monday, writing "while this video has recently surfaced among our student body, it was thoroughly investigated when it was brought to our attention and addressed with the students involved. We do not condone or tolerate acts of this nature.”
Officials for the school went on to say that disciplinary action against those involved with the video remains confidential at this time. They also acknowledged this isn't the first racially charged incident that has occurred in the district.
In a letter to parents and students of the school district, Merritt wrote, "We do not condone or tolerate reprehensible acts of this nature."
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Parents say words are not enough and they want more transparency on the disciplinary action the school took on those responsible for the video.
Different threats made back in December caused a the school district's three high schools to shut down; parents say the recent threats made on the video are just as bad and charges should be filed or at the very least, the student be expelled from the district.
“We've got responses from the school that it's being handled, but we don't know how it’s being handled," one parent said. "When it’s something this serious, I'm expecting something more than, we’re handling it and don’t worry about it.”
The school district said counseling services will be available for students. Officials said students are urged to report incidents of racist or threatening conduct.
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