Over 100 high school students recently walked out after leaked texts from the school's football team discussed raping female students. The debacle unfolded at the Chief Sealth High School in Seattle, where students, parents, and community members are angry at administrators' response to the controversy.
According to FOX 13, the student-athletes, most of whom are sophomores, were caught in a group chat sending messages threatening sexual violence at several female students. Screenshots of the messages were uploaded to Instagram, and concerned parents alerted school administrators.
"I saw the screenshot; it was basically like, ‘Oh, we want to bend her over and we want to rip her pants off,’" a freshman told reporters.
In a letter sent to families on October 19, Principal Ray Garcia Morales said the school took immediate action and suspended the players involved. Students and parents say they should've suffered a more severe punishment. A senior called the disciplinary action a "slap on the wrist" in a letter sent to West Seattle Blog.
"I feel like, for people that were basically planning out doing something sexual, they should be way more punished than just like a little suspension," a student said, per FOX 13.
On October 20 right before noon, dozens of teenagers walked out of class to protest the disturbing texts and the lack of accountability. Many shared their disgust and their own personal stories about Chief Sealth High's football team.
"I felt disgusted and something that I said in my speech to everybody was that," a student reportedly said at the rally. "I feel unsafe now. I feel very unsafe at this school thinking that these men are thinking about women in this way. And it just made me feel very disgusted and my heart goes out to the girls they were talking about."
Seattle Public Schools and Chief Sealth High School administrators said they supported the students' right to protest. The school district also revealed athletic leaders working on a plan to prevent sexual harassment while offering support to those who were the subject of the sexually-charged messages.
The Black Information Network is your source for Black News! Get the latest news 24/7 on The Black Information Network. Listen now on the iHeartRadio app or click HERE to tune in live.