Members of the BHS Social Justice Union wept with joy and cried “We did it!” after the school board voted unanimously Tuesday night to approve their request to raise the flag.
A ceremony and flag raising is tentatively planned for Monday.
“I’m overwhelmed, honestly. I’m just so happy that they did the right thing and we’re finally heading in the right direction,” said Eliza Abedi, a 17-year-old senior and cofounder of the Social Justice Union.
“This is so beautiful,” said Binti Malawia, a 16-year-old sophomore. “We’re finally being heard.”
The two were among about a half dozen students who appeared before the board. The students read a resolution saying that people of color make up 35 percent of the school district and want to be recognized. “Flying the BLM flag not only recognizes students of color, but it also creates a welcoming ethos and helps to bridge Burlington communities together,” the student resolution stated.
Some critics of the Black Lives Matter movement feel it unfairly stereotypes police and creates racial division with talk of white privilege.
Although students mentioned the possibility of a backlash for flying the flag, there was none during the meeting at Lyman C. Hunt Middle School. The board members briefly debated the details but were supportive. There was no public comment before the vote.
The school board did get a legal opinion, though, from school district general counsel Joe McNeil on the free speech implications of saying yes to the Black Lives Matter flag. A yes to the resolution would not turn the flagpole into a “public forum” that would force the board to approve all flag requests, even ones for highly controversial symbols such as swastikas, McNeil said.
The Burlington students were inspired by a similar effort at Montpelier High School, which raised a Black Lives Matter flag on February 1 at the start of black history month.
The Burlington students were interested in flying the flag every February, but the motion that passed covers just 2018. Acting board chair Stephanie Seguino suggested it might be better for students to return next year to make a fresh request. Mark Porter, the former board chair, supported the resolution and suggested the district offer equal treatment to similar requests from other populations of students in the district, be they Asian American or members of the LGBT community.
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This is great to see!
How about the John Birch society?
Perfectly OK?
How about all lives matter
“What is the mission of the organization?
Black Lives Matter is an international network of more than 30 chapters working to rebuild the black liberation movement and affirm the lives of all black people specifically black women, queer and trans people, people who are differently abled, and those who are undocumented and formerly incarcerated. We focus on those marginalized within black liberation movements, imposing a call to action and response to state-sanctioned violence against black people, as well as the virulent anti-black racism that permeates our society.”
this is copy and pasted from the BLM vermont website
if you didnt realize this was a black supremecist group then you can read their own words for yourself. It has nothing to do with “all lives”. which is why they openly say they care about the lives of “all black people”
this racist flag has no right being displayed on taxpayer owned public property
shame on the school board, administrators, and teachers for not having the courage to stand up for what is right . You wilted under the PC pressure and are now teaching black supremecist rhetoric to a majority white student population. Congratulations- You are officially brainwashed. The future of America looks bleak- and racially divided….
What a crock of shit.Why isn’t this considered racist?Don’t ALL lives matter? I find this offensive. Who does one whine to about getting these flags taken down? Seems like that’s the trend these days-if you whine hard enough you get your way.
I can pretty much guarantee that every post against this was written by someone who is white, who has lived quite happily with that privilege and has probably never known real discrimination based on nothing but their color, sexuality, gender identity, religion, ethnicity or anything else like that. In other words, their rights and lives have never been seen as subordinate to those of a majority. It is sad that so many people are threatened by others who ask simply for recognition and the sense of belonging the vast majority of us in Vermont take for granted.
People who say “All lives matter” don’t get that, until Black Lives Matter, no life matters. That is how fragile life is for people of color in some parts of this country. Their lives are treated as no more important than that of a stray dog, and that is simply wrong. We are all descended on the same family tree, and unless we can agree that those black lives matter, then it is simply blindness to insist that all lives matter.
And the lesson being taught to students is: individual rights are important, unless you really, really believe something, then it is okay to trample them.
“If there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion or force citizens to confess by word or act their faith therein.” (West Virginia Bd. of Ed. v. Barnette, 319 U.S. 624)
If you’re writing “all lives matter” in this comment thread, I challenge you to ask yourself, “What inspires me to oppose this?” Be honest with yourself. Take it a few steps beyond your first thought. You don’t have to share your observations with anyone. Just look at yourself, and ask, “What is it that really bugs me about this?”
And before doing so, take the rational step of acknowledging that nowhere, on the flag, the organization’s website, or on any of their outward messaging does it say, “ONLY Black Lives Matter”. The truth is, BLM is fighting to end violence and hatred towards black people. That is all. If you refuse to acknowledge that, then you’re choosing to perpetuate a lie.
BTVong,
For the sake of argument let’s assume that BLM is a peaceful and life affirming organization. Let’s assume they believe in equality and unity among all men, that they visit the sick and elderly on weekends, call their moms everyday, and never fail to help an old lady across the street. That still doesn’t make this okay in any way whatsoever. The government must never ever endorse a political group, a religion, an opinion group, a corporation, or any other group or party. Flying the colors of this corporation on public property not only implies such an endorsement, but also makes those of us who find the BLM group vile pay to support it. I get the kids believe in something, but the most valuable thing they might have learned from this episode could have been “Just because you believe something deeply doesnt give you the right to force your beliefs on others.” Instead the lesson is that others’ Constitutional rights take a distant second to your feelings and opinions. It’s shameful
“For at the heart of the First Amendment is the notion that an individual should be free to believe as he will, and that in a free society one’s beliefs should be shaped by his mind and his conscience rather than coerced by the State.” (D. Louis Abood et al., v. Detroit Bd. of Ed. 431 U.S. 209)
BTVONG- the KKK only seeks to end the violence and displacement of white people
Should they get to fly their flag?
why should ANY race based supremecy group be given a billboard to advertise ?
and it IS a billboard- you can shop at their ever changing website… which has since changed from what I quoted yesterday….
Wow, Ms. Alsop, congratulations to you on Understanding! Dont worry, we dont resent you for lecturing to us well-intentioned but unenlightened people! We admire you! After all, we are blind but you See! Sadly, we will never get to where you already are.
Patrick Cashman, I see your point, and am glad you made it. Public schools do have an obligation to maintain political neutrality. Thanks for that perspective.
Snow Creek, I see your point, too. See my response to Patrick. And I agree that you have to look at a group’s actions, not just their marketing. But the KKK? The purpose of the KKK is blatantly violent towards all peoples of non-white heritage. They’ve held lynchings, shot up homes, promoted segregation, pushed people of color out of towns, and systematically murdered, beaten, and terrorized thousands of people. They are a hate-based white supremacy group, as shown by their actions and their marketing. They’re evil beyond all interpretations.
I haven’t seen anything of the like from BLM to suggest that they’re a black supremacy group, or even an anti-white group. If I’m missing something, someone please point it out.
Our society has told black people that they don’t matter throughout our entire history. Why is it wrong for them to stand up and say that they do?
BTVong- Did you not read what I quoted from their own website where they state that they support the lives of “all black people- specifically black women”?? Have you not seen the many instances where they are openly holding anti white banners and shouting anti white racist diatribes? Have you not read about white people being ordered to the back during blm protests? they many instances where they are openly calling for violence against officers?
How does that promote equality?
And while you may say they are standing up for black people- we as a nation do not condone violence as a form of curbing what is seen as unfavorable behavior. If we devolve back to that we will quickly lose our sense
as a nation.
and no one is saying they dont matter. The person most likely to kill a black person in America is …..another Black person….If they really want to address the violence against black people- then they are not going in the right direction. and as for police violence- we have recently seen a black officer kill two white vermonters- yet the BLM has said NOTHING about it… Go figure
And to act as though we have some kind of racist problem in Vermont is absolutely absurd. These kids have only known an America that is accepting to all races. They are no more affected by the historical wrongs of the past than any other race. they are not victims
the fact is the flag should not be displayed. Its upsetting that the school board is so afraid that they are bowing to this group because they fear the PC monster that has consumed so many careers.
it is time to stand up- against what is increasingly a divided society based on race
I highly doubt Martin King would have approved of any group that based is agenda on the color of its members skin
BLM flag needs to be taken down! The BLM movement is one sided and only cares for no one! #alllivesmatter.
To prove a point next time California has an earthquake or Forrest fire or south is gets a hurricane lets see BLM raise money to support the victims. Lets see BLM join up and go help with clean up efforts and not Lewd the these places!