Walkout Planned At Fairfield Schools After Racist Incidents

FAIRFIELD, CT — Student equity groups at Fairfield Warde and Fairfield Ludlowe high schools have organized a walkout Monday in the wake of racist incidents involving students from both schools.

The walkout to support equity and justice is for students only, according to a letter sent to parents by the head principals of Warde and Ludlowe.

“Although we do not condone missing classes for a non-sanctioned event, we will allow our students to gather peacefully,” Warde Head Principal Paul Cavanna said in the letter. “Our goal is to afford students the opportunity to let their voices be heard while maintaining a safe environment for everyone on campus.”

Classes will meet Monday as regularly scheduled, and students who attend the walkout are responsible for making up any missing assignments and returning to class when the demonstration ends, according to the letter.

“We have collaborated with the Fairfield Police Department to help maintain a safe environment for our entire school community,” Cavanna said.

Fairfield’s high school communities have experienced the aftermath of two racist incidents in recent weeks.

A 16-year-old Warde student was arrested and charged with second-degree breach of peace and ridicule on account of creed, religion, color, denomination, nationality or race after creating a racist Snapchat post, according to police. The teen posted a photo of a classmate, Jamar Medor, overlaid with text that included a racial slur, police said.

The weekend after the initial May 7 incident, Jamar’s brother, Jake Medor, was called a racial slur in a verbal attack involving Ludlowe students, according to Jake and Jamar’s mother, Judith Medor, who has spoken publicly about what happened to her sons in the hope of preventing similar displays of racism.

Police are investigating the second incident, and the school district has also said appropriate actions were taken within the school system.

Regarding the first incident, school officials have repeatedly said the district does not disclose the details of how students are disciplined, but that the teen responsible for the Snapchat post would be held accountable in accordance with Board of Education policy. Judith said she was initially told that the student would be suspended for 10 days, and that officials later indicated to her that the boy would not return to Warde.

School district and police representatives met Monday with the Greater Bridgeport NAACP, which plans to offer training and workshops for students and staff at Fairfield schools. Additionally, Cavanna previously announced that Warde would create a long-term plan to foster unity at the school, beginning with the formation of the Warde Unity Coalition to address discrimination.