‘Hateful messages’ after protest lead Ky. school district to decry racism

Rowan County Superintendent John Maxey said his school district issued a statement against racism after receiving reports that “hateful messages” were circulating on social media following a peaceful protest in Morehead earlier this month.

“Recently a peaceful protest was held in Morehead and it was reported that hateful messages were being circulated on social media. School officials felt compelled to issue a statement that we do not tolerate racism of any form and that it has no place in our school system,” Maxey told the Herald-Leader over the weekend.

Maxey said he could not elaborate on the social media messages because “minors in the community” were involved.

“It was brought to the attention of our administration that offensive and inappropriate racist comments were posted on social media,” said the statement. “Hate, prejudice and racism have no place in our schools or our community. “

“We are striving to ensure a welcoming, inclusive, and safe environment for all students and families, regardless of their race.

“Bigotry goes against all of the values and beliefs of our school system and will not be accepted or tolerated. Our purpose is to successfully educate all the students who attend our schools,” the statement said.

The Herald-Leader reported that a demonstration for racial justice protest involving about 250 people in Morehead on Saturday June 6 was one of several in Kentucky towns that weekend. Rowan County had a population of 24,460 in 2019, according to the United States Census Bureau. Organizers of the protest encouraged speakers to offer their support to the black community.

“Racism is happening here, and we haven’t even started to have a conversation with our families so that when they say ‘Why Morehead?’, that’s why,” Alexa Clark, a woman at the protest said. “When they say ‘Why Morehead?’, it’s because police officers who are corrupt have been arrested all over this country this week. It is because corrupt police officers have been put on administrative leave. We are here to demand justice for George Floyd and Breonna Taylor.”