'Really Powerful': Fairfield Students Walk Out To Protest Racism

FAIRFIELD, CT — Hundreds of Fairfield students walked out of class Monday to protest recent acts of racism within the school district community. Once outside, students gathered to share their stories and speak out against all forms of discrimination.

“We’re all human, so why can’t we all be treated the same way?” asked Vanessa Knight, one of several students to address her peers in front of Fairfield Warde High School.

Student equity groups at Fairfield Warde and Fairfield Ludlowe high schools organized the walkout after a 16-year-old Warde student posted a photo of a classmate, Jamar Medor, on Snapchat, overlaid with text that included a racial slur. The teen has been arrested, faces multiple charges, and is being held accountable in accordance with Board of Education policy.

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. Police are investigating the second incident, and the school district has said appropriate measures were taken internally.

“These actions do not belong in a school environment or anywhere in society for that matter,” said Sarah Genovese, president of Fairfield Warde Voices for Equity.

Students knelt in a moment of silence, followed by chants of, “No justice, no peace.” The organizers invited students to share their testimonies. Some talked about being called slurs, while others discussed being mocked because of their appearance or witnessing prejudice against their family members.

“The main issue here is ignorance and the microaggressions,” Warde student Oscar Campa said. “I don’t want to have to feel uncomfortable coming to school.”

Multiple students discussed sexual assault and harassment. Director of Communications Andrea Clark confirmed those cases will be investigated by Fairfield police.

The walkout participants condemned racism, antisemitism, homophobia, sexism and ableism.

“We need to do a better job as Fairfield Public Schools to stop all the discrimination,” Warde student Rishi Pattmi said.

Plans are underway for the Greater Bridgeport NAACP to offer training and workshops for Fairfield students and staff. Warde Head Principal Paul 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.

Student equity leaders at Warde and Ludlowe said they chose to hold a walkout in order to draw attention to the issue of racism in a disruptive manner while giving students the chance to share and reflect during the course of the school day.

“What we wanted to show is the urgency of the moment,” said Sophia Mughal, a student leader for Youth for Equity at Ludlowe.

Student leaders spoke about the need for anti-bias training and for history to be taught across a diverse range of contexts. They also said they felt the recent racist incidents were not appropriately acknowledged by town leaders.

First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick noted she addressed the issue in her May 21 email to residents and that it was discussed at a recent Board of Selectmen meeting. She said she also spoke with the Medor family.

“As always, my hope for our community is that we discuss these important issues openly and learn from having honest conversations with each other, not just by making statements,” she wrote in the email. “I want Fairfield to be a place where people of all backgrounds and cultures feel safe, valued, and heard.”

Cavanna estimated about 25 percent of Warde’s 1,500 students participated in the walkout. While school officials said they don't condone students missing class for a non-sanctioned event, they allowed them to gather peacefully.

“While we still have much work to do as a district, it is encouraging to see our students organize, take action, and advocate for themselves and others, as responsible citizens,” Superintendent Mike Cummings said Monday in an email to parents.

Cavanna acknowledged that although Warde has protocols in place to address racism, there are opportunities for improvement.

“I think we have room to get better, room to grow,” he said.

Ludlowe Head Principal Greg Hatzis remarked on the importance of adults recognizing their own implicit biases.

“Everyone who spoke brought a different perspective to the table,” he said of the walkout. “Hearing the voices of minority students was really powerful.”