Arizona students protest after girl told to remove Black Lives Matter shirt
Aug 30, 2016, 10:41 AM | Updated: 2:13 pm
(Facebook Photo)
PHOENIX — Students at a Phoenix-area high school reportedly walked out on Monday after a girl was told she would not be allowed to wear a Black Lives Matter shirt in class.
The student outrage began after Mariah Havard wore the shirt to Buckeye Union High School’s picture day last week.
In a Facebook post, Havard said she was told by the school’s vice principal that her shirt was creating a disruption in the learning process and that she would not be allowed to wear it at school.
Havard also claimed that she was told she would not be allowed to wear the shirt because she got into an argument with a boy who said “black lives don’t matter.”
Havard was given a plain white shirt to wear instead.
To protest the school’s decision, about 10 students walked out of the high school on Monday. Several activists were there to support them.
"Power conceives nothing without demand! We are with you!" #blacklivesmatter #wematter @mvmt4bl @LaVozaz pic.twitter.com/XwPekXAicU
— Puente Arizona (@PuenteAZ) August 29, 2016
In a statement, the Buckeye Union High School District said it was aware of the protest and plans to work with “staff, local leaders and Black Lives Matter representatives to develop a plan to turn the incident … from a negative situation into a positive learning experience.”
The district said it also hopes to use the incident to teach tolerance, understanding and acceptance to its students, though said it will take time.