Manchester Hoop Star, District Find Middle Ground On Her Message

MANCHESTER, NJ — A week ago, the Manchester Township Board of Education told Destiny Adams she and her teammates couldn't wear shirts bearing the statement "Black Lives Matter" while they were warming up for their basketball games this season.

Adams, 17, spoke at the Jan. 20 school board meeting, pleading with the board to honor her request to display a message that she, as a young Black woman, felt deeply. The board denied her request.

In the week since the meeting, Adams and the district have been working to find some middle ground, to allow her to express herself and support her message, her family said Wednesday night.

The family also was dismayed to learn that school board members have been targeted with threats and hate mail in the wake of the decision.

"It's not supposed to be divisive; it's supposed to bring people together," Lisa Adams, Destiny's mother, said.

The positive movement on the issue was on display when Adams and some of her Hawks teammates arrived at the high school for the team's first game of the season on Tuesday, against Jackson Liberty, in hoodies bearing the statement "Black Lives Matter."

"That display wasn't to spite the board," Lisa Adams said, adding the district was aware of the hoodies. "It's her street clothes, and she took it (the hoodie) off before she stepped on the court."

Superintendent David Trethaway said in an email: "As a school district, we respect and support the rights of an individual student to express opinions and beliefs."

The family on Wednesday said Trethaway and the school board are being supportive of trying to help Destiny Adams get her message out.

In addition to the hoodies, Adams wrote "Black Lives Matter" on her wristband and wore socks with the message as well, the Asbury Park Press reported.

But during the shootaround warmups, the team members wore their shooting shirts from last year, honoring the board's decision, Lisa Adams said. Destiny's father, Dennis Adams, is the principal at Manchester Township High School and has declined to comment on the matter. He did speak at the school board meeting in his role as a parent.

"I’m standing for a change that will embrace equality for every race," Destiny Adams told the school board. "This is an issue I need to bring awareness to ... I love everyone, but Black lives are not treated right in this country. I’m here to start making a difference."

The uniform consists of the jersey and shorts, and bears the Manchester school name and player numbers. The shooting shirts were considered to be off-limits for the message, the board said, because the players are wearing them while they are representing the school.

"I really and truly believe it when you say you don't mean it to be divisive, and that you truly believe in your passion," Board President Ken Pate said at the meeting. "Change has to come. And our country is starting toward that. But this is a school function, it represents the whole school."

While the Adams family said the district has been working with Destiny to find a middle ground, the board's decision hasn't been well-received by everyone. Threatening emails and messages have been sent to some members of the board. A reader notified Patch of the threats; Trethaway confirmed board members had received "inappropriate" communications.

"I am aware of several inappropriate emails sent from individuals who are not aware or understanding of the entire situation," Trethaway said. He did not describe the content of the emails.

Lisa Adams said that's not what Destiny wants in her efforts to get the message out that Black Lives Matter.

"The last thing she ever would want is for anyone to have their life threatened," she said. "She (Destiny) wants to bring people together."

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