School worker suspended after wearing blackface in anti-vax protest
Employee claimed they were dressed as civil rights protest icon Rosa Parks
![Mabel Rush Elementary School in Newberg](https://static.independent.co.uk/2021/09/21/16/Screen%20Shot%202021-09-21%20at%2011.20.36%20AM.png)
Your support helps us to tell the story
As your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.
Your support enables me to be in the room, pressing for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we wouldn't have the resources to challenge those in power.
Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November election
![Head shot of Andrew Feinberg](https://static.independent.co.uk/static-assets/support-us/andrew-feinberg.png)
Andrew Feinberg
White House Correspondent
A staff member at an Oregon elementary school showed up in blackface to protest against its vaccination mandate.
The employee at Mabel Rush Elementary School in Newberg claimed they were dressed as civil rights icon Rosa Parks, who refused to obey racist laws that forced Black people to sit in the back of public buses.
The Newberg Public Schools district has a vaccine mandate that covers both teachers and staff members, with religious and medical exemptions.
The school district condemned the action and aid that the staff member had been placed on administrative leave.
“The administration of Newberg Public Schools condemns all expressions of racism,” the school district said in a statement.
“It is important to remember how blackface has been used to misrepresent Black communities and do harm. We acknowledge the violence this represents and the trauma it evokes regardless of intention.
Blackface has no place in our schools, and we are committed to the work of created spaces where every student belongs as we move forward together in our mission of educating students.”
Superintendent Dr Joe Morelock said: “We’ve seen some dehumanising and deeply disturbing expressions of racism in recent days involving our district.”
“As always, our deepest concern is for the wellbeing of our students and our staff. Every day, we work toward building an environment where every student is welcomed and safe, and where there is absolutely no tolerance for racist or bullying behaviour,” he said.
“I am horrified, angry and ashamed that this happened, as is nearly every other staff member. The students of colour in Newberg deserve so much more.
“This goes against everything I and the vast majority of NSD staff believe, and is unfathomably offensive.”
He added: “If we had the power to entirely eliminate deep-seated racism, we would in a heartbeat. But the painful truth is that clearly, racist behaviour exists in our town, in our state, and our world—not just in the major and overt ways we’ve seen recently, but in subtle ways that affect people of colour every single day.
“We must interrupt and respond; we must do better.”
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments