By signing this petition you are asking Rockingham County Public Schools fire Thomas Harrison (Elkton Middle School) for his racist and discriminatory actions. 

READ THE STORIES SUBMITTED BY HIS FORMER STUDENTS BY CLICKING HERE. These stories range from the years of 2007-2018. 

We will no longer sit idly by and let our oppressors get away with unacceptable and racist behavior. For so long minorities in the Elkton, VA area have stayed silent, but it is now clear that the majority stands with the minority. On June 1, 2020 I posted my story on social media, in which I described a racist incident with an Elkton Middle school teacher who I chose not to name. (The entirety of the post, including comments, can be found here.) However, even excluding his name, former students knew who I was referring to and began reaching out to me. I realized this problem was more rampant than I had thought and even after 10 years I was the first one to speak out. 

We were just children, we didn’t know what to say or do. Now we are back to demand justice be served to racists like Thomas Harrison. This man does not deserve to have a job in the Rockingham County Public School system. As a teacher he is empowered and uniquely positioned to disseminate his own racist ideologies in the classroom, where children look up to their teachers as role models.

These stories happened over the course of many years. I have no doubt that people of color before and after me have been victims to the discriminatory and hateful acts and words of Thomas Harrison. He is a persistent problem and an unapologetic racist. If you stand by and choose to not remove him from our school system you are no better than the slurs that leave his mouth. If you choose not to remove him-- you are condoning his behavior. You, RCPS, are showing that there are no repercussions to hate speech and belittling people of color within the Rockingham County Public School System. It is our job as citizens of the United States to protect our children, and it is your duty as principles and as a school board to remove him from our education system. School is supposed to be a safe place. It is your responsibility; will you stand by and support the oppressor or will you choose the side of people of color everywhere?