24K Sign Petition For Warde Student's Expulsion After Racist Post

FAIRFIELD, CT — Thousands of people have signed an online petition calling for the expulsion of a 16-year-old student at Fairfield Warde High School, who is charged in connection with a racist Snapchat post targeting a classmate.

As of early Thursday, the petition had nearly 24,000 supporters, 840 of whom were identified as being in Fairfield.

“Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) shouldn't have to encounter this type of racist harassment from other students in a predominantly white institution,” the petition said. “Fairfield Warde High School should take racism seriously, and the student who posted the racist comment should be expelled immediately.”

The teen who created the post took a picture of a fellow student, Jamar Medor, without Jamar’s knowledge, and overlaid the photo with text that included a racial slur. Jamar, who is Black, did not know the poster, according to his mother, Judith Medor, who has said she wants the boy who made the post to be expelled.

Judith said she was told the student was suspended for 10 days and that a hearing will be held to determine if he will remain at Warde. Fairfield officials have repeatedly said the school district does not disclose disciplinary action taken against students. In a message Wednesday to parents and staff, Superintendent Mike Cummings said the student will be held accountable in accordance with school board policy, a sentiment echoed by Director of Communications Andrea Clark.

“We hear and respect community voices, but they are not part of that process,” Clark said in an email to Patch.

In addition to any discipline the student might face, the teen has also been arrested in connection with the incident and charged with second-degree breach of peace and ridicule on account of creed, religion, color, denomination, nationality or race, according to police.

The Snapchat post Friday was one of two racist incidents that targeted Judith’s sons, she said. Her son, Jake Medor, received a video call over the weekend from several Fairfield Ludlowe High School students, who called him a racial slur, she said. District officials have acknowledged a second racist incident occurred, and said an investigation was conducted and appropriate actions were taken.

“They’re really exposed now, so they are a target to the community of Fairfield,” said Judith, who has contacted the Greater Bridgeport NAACP and intends to pursue civil action.

In addition to seeking the student’s expulsion, the petition called on schools to incorporate lessons in diversity and interpersonal relations into their curricula.

Following the Snapchat post, Warde Head Principal Paul Cavanna announced an effort to create a long-term plan to foster unity at the school, beginning with the formation of the Warde Unity Coalition to address discrimination. In Wednesday’s message, Cummings spoke against intolerance and asserted the district’s commitments.

“Above all, we commit to listening, to promptly and fully investigating, and to addressing allegations of racist behavior, actions, policies, or practices in our school system,” he said.