Latest news with #InclusivePosterSeries
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lakeville school board votes 4-3 to remove posters promoting inclusion, Black Lives Matter
A collection of posters, including some with the phrase Black Lives Matter, will be removed from buildings in the Lakeville school district following a 4-3 vote from the school board Tuesday night. The 'Inclusive Poster Series', which is at the center of an ongoing federal lawsuit filed against the district, has been displayed inside the schools since 2021. Two of the eight designs included in the series feature the phrase "Black Lives Matter." In the lawsuit, a group of plaintiffs have alleged their First Amendment rights were violated when the district refused to also display "All Lives Matter" and "Blue Lives Matter" posters. Last year, the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a lower court's dismissal of the case and reinstated the lawsuit. Whether or not the district should remove the posters has divided the community, with school board members saying they received hundreds of emails ahead of Tuesday's meeting. The meeting also featured extensive public comment, with those in support of keeping the poster series outnumbering those who wanted the posters removed – school board members were interrupted by the crowd on multiple occasions throughout the discussion. Supporters of the poster series said the messages are a valuable tool to promote learning as they combat bullying and help students feel safe, valued and seen. Those critical of the posters claim they are "politically-charged", and contend the district should not promote any political organization or movement. Ultimately, the board adopted a resolution to remove the posters and replace the series with new something new, which has yet to be developed. Board Chair Matt Swanson voted in favor of the posters' removal alongside Paul Carbone, Brett Nicholson and Brian Thompson. Carly Anderson, Kim Baker and Amber Cameron voted against the motion. During his remarks, Swanson said the decision was unrelated to President Donald Trump's recent actions to roll back diversity, equity and inclusion measures nationwide.
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lakeville schools to consider removing posters promoting inclusion amid lawsuit
The Brief Lakeville School Board to vote on Tuesday whether to remove their "Inclusive Poster Series." Eight posters in total, but two of them promote "Black Lives Matter." The lawsuit alleged violation of policy against political statements, but some parents believe the posters only focused on inclusion should say. LAKEVILLE, Minn. (FOX 9) - The Lakeville School Board will discuss and vote on Tuesday whether a series of eight posters promoting diversity and inclusion will be removed from schools. This stems from a years-long lawsuit, upheld by an appeals court last year, alleging the posters violate a policy against political statements, specifically because two of them focus on Black Lives Matter. Those behind the lawsuit believe they all need to be removed. Some parents are upset, arguing the images that promote inclusion are important messages that should stay. The backstory In 2020, when some teachers requested to put Black Lives Matter posters in their classrooms in the wake of George Floyd, the district was clear they could not, citing their policy against political statements. But in 2021, when it came up again as part of a series of posters promoting diversity and inclusion, the district gave it the OK. Several parents and students filed a lawsuit after they were denied permission to put up posters promoting other viewpoints, arguing that Black Lives Matter is a political organization and claiming their own free speech was violated. "Proposals were made to put up All Lives Matter and Blue Lives Matter," explained attorney Doug Seaton of the Upper Midwest Law Center, a conservative nonprofit which specializes in cases of what they see as government overreach. "And the district said no to those and only yes to the Black Lives Matter supported posters." Dig deeper After a district court tossed out the lawsuit, ruling that the posters were free speech, an appeals court reversed that decision in the summer of 2024. A settlement conference is now scheduled for February. Seaton is not opposed to the idea of the district creating new posters that promote equality among all students, but believes the current series of posters all need to be removed, not just the two that promote Black Lives Matter. "We're very hopeful we'll have a settlement in the case," said Seaton, "and a start to that would be for them to adopt a position, a policy, of neutrality and remove these posters from the school corridors and the classrooms." The other side Some parents are not happy with the idea that all the posters could be eliminated. One who spoke to FOX 9, but wished to remain anonymous, said she understands the issue with the Black Lives Matter posters, since they do have a political agenda. But, as the parent of a student with special needs, she feels the message of inclusion for all is very important. The CEO of the Down Syndrome Society of Minnesota wrote the district a letter expressing the same concerns. In a statement, she told FOX 9 that "as an organization that is focused on promoting inclusion for those that often find themselves in the margins, it is heartbreaking to see that people view inclusionary practices as harmful."
