Racism at Coon Rapids High School (CRHS)

By Samiira H.

Background

In December 2015, I said Black Lives Matter (BLM) while wearing a BLM shirt on the school’s announcements. After the video was posted for the school to see, I was called into Principal Annette Ziegler’s office. I was alone with the principal and two assistant principals (Sherri Schendzielos and Andrew Frosch) and was given an ultimatum: apologize to the student body for my actions or face “harsh consequences” like suspension. They claimed BLM was a political statement that was offensive and necessitated an apology when BLM is, in fact, a human rights movement. I was a scared 16-year-old, I did what I was told and apologized to the school. Yes, I was uncomfortable and did not want to apologize for saying my life matters, but they were authority figures and harsh consequences could have led to rejections from universities.

2015 Aftermath

My fellow Black women were the only students that were vocal about the incident and staged a sit-in at the administration office. With my support, they demanded the administration acknowledge their actions by publicly apologizing to me and changing their stance on BLM. The administration did nothing, so I went to the school’s Student Achievement Advisor (the only Black woman on staff). She got the district involved, and Superintendent of Anoka-Hennepin School District (AHSD) David Law paid a visit to CRHS. Again, nothing was done and I tried to move on from the situation.

The Current Situation

On May 31st 2020, the incident resurfaced on twitter and went viral. CRHS came out with a statement that did not address their responsibility for how poorly they handled the situation. In their statement, CRHS claims there is no place for discrimination or racism on campus, but their view of BLM as a political statement and their treatment towards me IS racist. On June 20th 2020, there was a protest at CRHS about the 2015 incident where multiple community members spoke about their experiences with racism during their time at CRHS.

CRHS and its Discriminatory Practices

CRHS has a long history of silencing Black students while amplifying white voices who have far-right views. Here are just some of the racist incidences from recent years:

• Student did blackface and said the N-word, no action was taken
• Former and current teachers have described some black students using the N-word with -er and have let white students say the N-word in their classrooms.
• Student sent out mass email with a racist and anti-semitic poll, got only a 3-day suspension before winter-break
• Bombing threats were made to black dancers at CRHS and nothing was done
• Admin have questioned and intimidated numerous black students without parent/guardian permission or presence.
• White students regularly wear Trump apparel and use racial slurs
  • I.e. An administrator's son has walked around CRHS with a Trump flag
• In the current yearbook, a white student expresses their support for Trump stating “He truly represents America”
• Black students are often policed for standing in the hallway during passing time and on multiple occasions, these students faced disciplinary actions while teachers give high-fives to white students in the halls.
• Cheerleaders were reprimanded for defending themselves against violence from white students

CRHS has the worst employee retention rates of black staff in AHSD. In fact, 2 of 4 black staff members quit on the same day due to the amount of racism at CRHS. Racism is deeply ingrained in the culture of CRHS and things need to change.

Demands

Principal Ziegler and Superintendent Law must take responsibility for the racism at CRHS and need to acknowledge that All Black Lives Matter. Coon Rapids High School students deserve to feel welcome and safe while they learn which is why I am demanding changes in the AHSD and CRHS.

Demands at CRHS

• New and diverse leadership
  • Annette Ziegler has been principal for over 7 years and all the aforementioned incidents happened under her supervision.
• Give students the space to voice concerns without fear of facing disciplinary action from faculty or backlash from other students.
• Faculty and students needs to be actively anti-racist by holding each other accountable.

Demands at District level 

• Trends of racism can be seen across the school district, which is why I am also calling for new leadership at the District office.
• Create an equity team to address reports of discrimination and racism. This team would hold racist students and staff members accountable as well as track progress towards a district free of racism.
• Invest in black and brown educators, and faculty that is more reflective of the student’s they are meant to serve.
• Invest in education on the history of race in America taught by black educators.

A representative committee of community members should elect new leadership into the District and CRHS. I have created this petition to collect support and show how serious I am about dismantling racist ideology in CRHS and AHSD.

Almost every black student who has attended or currently attends CRHS has experienced discrimination and/or racism. We need to hold these educational institutions that allow racism to persist accountable.