PHOENIX—A suburban Phoenix school district is taking disciplinary action after a photo of students spelling out a racial slur with T-shirts showed up on social media.
Tempe Union High School District spokeswoman Jill Hanks said Friday that the discipline process remains ongoing but six girls will be punished in accordance with district policies.
Hanks says Desert Vista High School students were wearing shirts to spell out “BEST (asterisk) YOU'VE (asterisk) EVER (asterisk) SEEN (asterisk) CLASS (asterisk) OF (asterisk) 2016” for a senior class yearbook photo. She says the girls in the photo went off on their own and used their shirts to spell out a racial slur, “n-----.”
Someone shared the photo online, prompting calls to the principal.
Hanks says officials are “absolutely outraged and disappointed” and the students’ actions do not represent the student body. The students did not immediately respond to requests for comment made through social media accounts.
Phoenix-area civil rights activist the Rev. Jarrett Maupin says he and other activists plan to meet Monday with the district’s superintendent.
“The racist images and discriminatory behavior created and exhibited by Desert Vista high school students is shocking, outrageous, and should give everyone cause for concern,” Maupin said.
