Dear Members of the Whitman Community, 

On Friday, June 12th of 2020, a serious incident of racism and hate graffiti involving the spray painting of the n-word and a noose occurred on our Walt Whitman High School campus. Outrage, grief, and indignation grips members of our Whitman community. This abhorrent and unacceptable act of racism is very similar to what was spray painted on our campus in late February of this school year. The perpetrators remain unknown. Dr. Dodd issued a statement on Saturday, June 13th, describing how the school has “covered up the graffiti and contacted the police… to investigate this incident.” Although the school has moved expeditiously to cover up this incidence of hate and prejudice, the Whitman community needs to focus on how we can work towards solving this recurrent issue and preventing any future acts of racism and discrimination at our school. Every student has the right to pursue their education in a safe and inclusive learning environment, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, age, and gender. 

We urge the Whitman administration to fund the establishment of more security cameras on our campus in order to prevent future instances of racism and increase safeguards for students. The addition of more security cameras will deter any individuals from committing future acts of racism, prejudice, and discrimination at our school. Any person who commits such acts of vandalism and hate will be held accountable for the implications of their actions on the Whitman community. Even though Whitman has acted to combat racism by implementing OneWhitman, partnering with the Anti-Defamation League, and organizing the “Racism Ends With Us!” forums, we are certain that our administration will take stronger measures in response to the recent incident. We may not be able to enforce the immediate elimination of systematic racism on a national scale, but with the support of the Whitman administration, we can certainly bring about change to prevent racism at our own school. 

Although I presume that the Whitman administration would be willing to implement these proposed changes, we would like to collect $1 donations from the Whitman community to fund the addition of more security cameras at our school to demonstrate a student effort to combat racism in our community. Considering the circumstances of Whitman families that have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, please keep in mind that a $1 contribution from every Whitman student would lead to a total contribution of at least $2,000. You can make a tax-deductible donation to Girls for Girls non-profit via Paypal and/or GoFundMe, and all proceeds will go towards a stronger security system at Whitman.

Ever since the first hate incident in February, disturbed members of the Whitman community have speculated on whether the perpetrators of such an intolerable act were affiliated with Whitman or another school. If a future hate incident is committed by an individual who is not associated with our school, then the security cameras will prevent others from further tarnishing Whitman’s reputation, diminishing its mission of fostering an equitable and inclusive learning environment, and mischaracterizing the school community as a whole. The acts of certain individuals do not represent the beliefs of our community in its entirety, and we want people to remember not the acts of racism that occurred on our campus, but the strong response of Whitman students to combat racism. Whitman students are held to a high academic standard, and they must also be held to a high moral and egalitarian standard as well. 

In addition to improving our security system, we urge all members of the Whitman community to do their part and contribute to the fight against racism. Now is an optimal time for parents to facilitate family conversations about race and equity, for students and parents to spread awareness of the movement for equality, and for students to organize efforts to end discrimination in our community as well as our nation as a whole. 

Please feel free to contact us with any questions, comments, and/or concerns at nfadul4@gmail.com, including all inquiries about receiving tax benefits from your donations to Girls for Girls, NGO.

Thank you,

Nada Fadul 

Co-Founder of Girls for Girls, NGO

Chief Deputy of Equal Access to Education Dept. (MCR-SGA)

Director of Education Policy Dept. (MCR-SGA)