Cobb students demand harsher penalties for hate speech in school

COBB COUNTY, Ga. — Many students say they are experiencing problems with racism and bigotry within the Cobb County School District.

Channel 2 has followed a group of students for nearly a month now as they fight for harsher consequences in school when it comes to this problem.

Michele Newell spoke with students about their demands.

The group of students have spoken out at school board meetings, including one Thursday night, and they recently sent a six page letter to the superintendent and other district leaders outlining what they want.

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Nearly 60 students from other schools signed it.

Newell spoke with two seniors at Campbell High School who are members of the black student association. They are calling for an automatic 10 day out of school suspension for those who say or do something deemed racist, sexist or homophobic.

“We’ve had interactions with the Democratic board members, but anybody else we haven’t talked to. We haven’t gotten anything from the superintendent,” Kezia Kennedy said.

According to the district’s code of conduct, disrespectful and disparaging remarks about race, ethnicity or religion are considered level 1 and 2 offenses.

Several students think that should be a minimum and have tried to get action since March.

They held a silent demonstration and have spoken out at school board meetings.

This week they sent their demands in letter form district leaders.

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“It’s not just our school that experienced racism. It’s literally everywhere, like Wheeler, Peddblebrook has their issues, so it’s not just a Campbell thing. It’s for everybody,” Radiya Ajibade said.

Since 2020, a group of students have tried to get the name of Wheeler High School changed. It is named after a confederate civil war general.

Last fall, school board members passed a resolution against antisemitism and racism, a move that came one month after bathrooms were vandalized with swastikas and hate speech.

“Our students are fierce and they’re well informed and it’s not just one group of students. We have pockets of students coming from all over the county,” Board member Jaha Howard said. “We have to make sure as a district leadership we don’t just listen and then just move on. No, we need to engage them in a genuine way make sure that we are taking in consideration their recommendations and let’s get some things done.”

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Friday afternoon a district spokesperson told Newell that the district  will not tolerate hateful and racist speech of any kind.

They said the student code of conduct outlines multiple policies that include discipline , and applicable interpersonal student interactions, including disrespectful conduct, disruptive classroom and school behavior, harassment and more.

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