NAACP Partners With Issaquah Schools After Racist Photo Incident

ISSAQUAH, WA — The Seattle-King County NAACP chapter is working on a plan with the Issaquah School District to create a racial education program, the organization has said. The partnership follows an incident last month when an Issaquah High School student was photographed making a racist TOLO proposal.

The NAACP is calling the partnership an "educational pilot program," although few details were available. Seattle NAACP President Sadiqa Sakin told local media that there's a meeting next week about the partnership, and something firm may be in place as soon as the fall.

"We have had positive and productive meetings with the NAACP and are in the process of defining the specifics of our partnership. We are eager to leverage the expertise of the NAACP to inform us of best practices to address cultural competency holistically in our District and sincerely appreciate their support," ISD communications director L. Michelle said Thursday.

Over the weekend of March 30, a photo of a student holding a sign that said, "If I was black, I'd be picking cotton. But instead I pick you. TOLO?" The district and school board denounced the incident, and the student eventually apologized. Issaquah High School students also held a walkout on April 3 to stand against racism.