To the Community:

On May 5, 2022, at an unspecified time before lunch, a picture was taken in the weight room at Bullard High School where a student seemingly propped up a makeshift Ku Klux Klan hood on another student’s head.  The racist photo was then posted to social media (Instagram) where it continued to spread.    

Bullard High School has had a long history of racist and insensitive actions against students of color and other marginalized students. The imitation of hateful images by known hate groups, like the KKK, continue to glorify real trauma and violence against Black people.  Where some may have had the intent of sharing a crass joke, the impact has been particularly painful for Black students at Bullard and also at other Fresno Unified High Schools.  

Our shared outrage isn’t over a singular action or person. At Bullard, the pain of the photo that circulated is even more acute. Bullard has had at minimum four known instances of racism this semester alone. The former handle @bhs_blacks on Instagram was an account in which Black students at Bullard had their photos taken without consent.  This account has now been taken  down. These students photos were posted next to painful, racist imagery from slavery and the Jim Crow period. This imagery includes whippings, flogging, monkeys, and boats. The bio read, “Send in Monkeys”.

How have students and their families who underwent this race–based attack been cared for in its aftermath?

This isn’t the only account in which Black students and staff have been posted without their consent targeting them because of their race in Fresno Unified and their campuses. Numerous pages are now being reported to various BSU members via DM. The last instagram page we have removed from instagram is @ahwahnee.blacks, which featured Black staff and students. 

Many students are distraught, upset, and angered about the continuous blatant anti-black racism. 

We know collective walkout and silent protest on Friday, May 6, 2022 is the first step in making our pain, anger, and our call to justice and action clear.

When will Black students be included in the vision of Fresno Unified where “…students, families, and staff are valued, empowered and valued to achieve their greatest potential?

When will enough be enough?

We demand the following actions: 

1. Immediate discipline of students involved in posing and capturing the image.
2. The enrollment of the involved students into cultural sensitivity training.
3. The immediate discipline of staff members who were supervising students.  
4. A formal address to all students from their principal on the culturally destructive nature of racism.  
5. The expanded enrollment of Ethnic Studies and other topical Ethnic Studies Classes
6. Enforcement of Fresno Unified Anti-racist resolution for district employees and students
7. Hiring of Black faculty and administrators with the goal of at least a five year retention.
8. The implementation of a student governing board to assess and enforcement of anti-racist policies. 

The Black Student Union Collective is a joint collaborative group of Black Student Union clubs across Fresno Unified that serve as a social, intellectual, and cultural community through education and action.