‘We don’t have any representation’: Hanover, Henrico NAACPs calling for change after racial slur incident
HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — The Hanover and Henrico chapters of the NAACP are demanding meaningful change after a disturbing incident involving a racial slur written by a Hanover student on a Henrico school bus. During a junior varsity football game between Hanover High and Henrico High on Thursday, Oct. 24, a Hanover student unaffiliated with their school's football team wrote a racial slur for Black people on a Henrico bus using dirt. Hanover’s school district denounced the act following an investigation into the incident, with Interim Superintendent Lisa Pennycuff confirming that the student involved is being “held fully accountable.” “While School Board Policy prohibits the disclosure of student records, we want to assure you that the individual responsible for this reprehensible, hateful, and inexcusable incident is being held fully accountable to the fullest extent allowed by the Code of Student Conduct and School Board Policy,” Pennycuff stated. PREVIOUS: Hanover NAACP raises concerns after racial slur incident at Hanover High School However, NAACP presidents said they feel punishment is not enough, students need to be taught why what they did was wrong with training. “It was a wonderful statement, but we look for the action to go along with that statement,” said Hanover NAACP president Pat Jordan. This led the Hanover and Henrico NAACPs to call Wednesday’s press conference at the Mechanicsville Library. “It just hits me at times, because our kids are being hurt in this county [and] our school system wants to ignore it," Jordan said. Henrico NAACP president Monica Hutchinson was also in attendance. “I am extremely proud of how our Henrico students have handled the situation, but it doesn’t mean it hurts any less,” Hutchinson said. The sentiment of urgency for action was echoed by community members, young and old, who attended the press conference. Despite assurances of accountability, NAACP leaders stress that the fight against racism is far from over. Jordan emphasized the need for ongoing education and representation. “All of them need to be in training on why that was not an appropriate thing to do," Jordan said. "We see issues with race all around -- we don't have any representation on our school board.” As the community grapples with this troubling incident, the NAACP is calling for a united front against racism in Hanover County schools and beyond.
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HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — The Hanover and Henrico chapters of the NAACP are demanding meaningful change after a disturbing incident involving a racial slur written by a Hanover student on a Henrico school bus.
During a junior varsity football game between Hanover High and Henrico High on Thursday, Oct. 24, a Hanover student unaffiliated with their school's football team wrote a racial slur for Black people on a Henrico bus using dirt.
Hanover’s school district denounced the act following an investigation into the incident, with Interim Superintendent Lisa Pennycuff confirming that the student involved is being “held fully accountable.”
“While School Board Policy prohibits the disclosure of student records, we want to assure you that the individual responsible for this reprehensible, hateful, and inexcusable incident is being held fully accountable to the fullest extent allowed by the Code of Student Conduct and School Board Policy,” Pennycuff stated.
PREVIOUS: Hanover NAACP raises concerns after racial slur incident at Hanover High School
However, NAACP presidents said they feel punishment is not enough, students need to be taught why what they did was wrong with training.
“It was a wonderful statement, but we look for the action to go along with that statement,” said Hanover NAACP president Pat Jordan.
This led the Hanover and Henrico NAACPs to call Wednesday’s press conference at the Mechanicsville Library.
“It just hits me at times, because our kids are being hurt in this county [and] our school system wants to ignore it," Jordan said.
Henrico NAACP president Monica Hutchinson was also in attendance.
“I am extremely proud of how our Henrico students have handled the situation, but it doesn’t mean it hurts any less,” Hutchinson said.
The sentiment of urgency for action was echoed by community members, young and old, who attended the press conference.
Despite assurances of accountability, NAACP leaders stress that the fight against racism is far from over. Jordan emphasized the need for ongoing education and representation.
“All of them need to be in training on why that was not an appropriate thing to do," Jordan said. "We see issues with race all around -- we don't have any representation on our school board.”
As the community grapples with this troubling incident, the NAACP is calling for a united front against racism in Hanover County schools and beyond.
