Hello all! 

For the past few years, we have seen a continual and overwhelming outpouring of pain from the black and brown communities in the Leander and Cedar Park area. We have heard countless stories in which Black children are called “monkeys” and “slaves,” where Hispanic/Latinx children are told they can’t speak Spanish in class or are called “illegals,” in which South-Asian students are told their skin looks like “shit,” and minorities are covertly barred from taking part in extra-curricular activities. This is unacceptable.

The staff, administration, and school board of LISD have utterly failed the black and brown students of this district. When teachers call students “mulattos”, when principals fail to condemn racism on their campuses, when employees of the district call the police on a peacefully protesting black man and go unpunished, there is clearly an institution that not only permits but protects those who subject students to awful discriminatory acts. This has to change. 

We, the people of this district, are officially demanding that LISD heed our voices and implement radical change within their schools. We mandate that the following happen: 

• That every staff member of the district be required to undergo extensive and comprehensive anti-racist and cultural awareness training. 

• That all racially-charged stipulations in the dress code be effectively removed. This includes bans on durags, headscarves, bandanas, and all other so-called “gang apparel.” 

•For LISD to hire more minority teachers and administrators, especially black teachers and administrators.

• For the Confederate Flag to be banned from campuses unless it is being used for educational purposes. 

• That all language arts & history curriculum be modified to be more inclusive of black + brown stories/figures.

•That explicit language be implemented into the student and teacher code of conduct effectively condemning racism, and for practices to be put in place to effectively punish it. 

We are done waiting. Black and brown children can’t afford to be raised in schools that will not protect them. We are all deserving of the same inclusive and welcoming educational environment. Anything less than this is a shameful failure. Join us today and help fight for our future. Fight for LISD.