Redress Roycemore School Racism in Evanston, Illinois

The Issue

Roycemore School, of Evanston, Illinois has engaged in racist treatment of both black parents and students. My daughter was injured and had to go to the emergency room in March 2017, and her safety was compromised other times afterward. The school refused my demands for answers, personal apologies and accountability, ultimately seeking to ban me, and expel my children from the school. I had to retain a lawyer for my children to finish the last month of school. While Roycemore largely hides behind its power and privilege as a private school, in 2011 it sought and obtained public financing through a municipal bond deal at over $13 million dollars. Without this government-facilitated subsidy and access to capital markets, Roycemore would not exist. Evanston has a human rights ordinance, which is largely symbolic and cannot be enforced. So redress of racism locally is limited, while financing of racist institutions can continue unabated. The city of Evanston mayor and city council can correct both the imbalance and publicly call Roycemore to account for its documented actions.

This petition had 32 supporters

The Issue

Roycemore School, of Evanston, Illinois has engaged in racist treatment of both black parents and students. My daughter was injured and had to go to the emergency room in March 2017, and her safety was compromised other times afterward. The school refused my demands for answers, personal apologies and accountability, ultimately seeking to ban me, and expel my children from the school. I had to retain a lawyer for my children to finish the last month of school. While Roycemore largely hides behind its power and privilege as a private school, in 2011 it sought and obtained public financing through a municipal bond deal at over $13 million dollars. Without this government-facilitated subsidy and access to capital markets, Roycemore would not exist. Evanston has a human rights ordinance, which is largely symbolic and cannot be enforced. So redress of racism locally is limited, while financing of racist institutions can continue unabated. The city of Evanston mayor and city council can correct both the imbalance and publicly call Roycemore to account for its documented actions.

The Decision Makers

Evanston Mayor Stephen Hagerty
Evanston Mayor Stephen Hagerty
Petition updates
Share this petition
Petition created on June 17, 2017