The Virginia NAACP filed a lawsuit against a county school board on Tuesday for reinstating Confederate military names to two schools. The NAACP accused the school board of promoting segregationist values and creating a racially discriminatory educational environment for Black students.
Last month, the school board in Shenandoah County voted 5-1 to change the name of Mountain View High School back to Stonewall Jackson High School and Honey Run Elementary to Ashby Lee Elementary. This decision overturned a 2020 vote to remove the original names amidst nationwide protests against racial injustice.
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Harrisonburg, states that Black students make up less than 3% of the school system’s population. The plaintiffs include five students and their parents, identified by initials as Black, White, and biracial.
The NAACP argued that the Confederate school names violate the students’ First Amendment rights by forcing them to endorse symbols of hatred, White supremacy, and racial discrimination. The organization also cited the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause, which prohibits racial discrimination in state-supported institutions.
U.S. News
In reversal, Virginia school board votes to restore Confederate names to 2 schools
7:14 PM, May 10, 2024
The Southern Poverty Law Center’s Intelligence Project noted that the trend of removing Confederate names and memorials continues, despite the decision in Shenandoah County. The school board members who voted to reinstate the Confederate names claimed they were responding to community sentiment and due process.
Public opinion on the issue was divided, with residents voicing their support or opposition during a board meeting. While some argued that restoring the Confederate names was disrespectful to minority students, others believed it was a nod to tradition and history.
The resolution passed by the school board mentioned that private donations would fund the name changes. Shenandoah County, known for its conservative leaning, has a population of about 45,000 and is located roughly 100 miles west of Washington, D.C.
