Ashley Dawn Warner's brother was in a school skit dressed in a black and white striped prison uniform. The skit was all in good fun, until someone took a photo and turned it into a racist meme.
"My blood is absolutely boiling. This is my little brother pictured in this screenshot," Warner said on Facebook. "This is from another students Snapchat. My brother is dressed up for Positive Peers as they are putting on a production for the school called Teen Forum."
Positive Peers is part of a mentorship program that educates students on the importance of positive relationships with peers.
She explained that a fellow student took the photo and sent it to classmates on Snapchat with captions the student made. "N***er for auction in Chandler Oklahoma, starting bid $50." Below the photo was a Confederate flag — a symbol racists often argue is about “history” and not slavery.
"I know bullying happens, I was bullied all throughout school, but it seems to happen a lot more in Chandler Schools then it should," she said. Every student in her family has been bulled in Chandler, Oklahoma schools, according to Warner.
"I’m not sure if this is a result of piss poor parenting or if the school needs to do something regarding bullying or both; but this kinda crap isn’t acceptable," she wrote. "I’m so sick of this racism shit and disgusted that it’s 2018 and we still let our children call other children 'n***ers.' Absolutely unacceptable."
Warner said that she heard the students who posted the photo have been suspended and she's not sure what other discipline there will be in the future.
According to KOCO, the school district released a statement calling it a "deeply disturbing incident."
“This behavior is not repetitive of Chandler Public Schools, its staff members or its students," the district said in the statement. "The District has no tolerance for hateful depictions and captions regarding any student and has and will continue to address this unacceptable, despicable behavior whenever it occurs. In addition, districts officials will lean in with an even greater emphasis on educating students regarding no tolerance for actions or words that threaten, harass or bully others because of color."
They went on to apologize to the student they said was "the victim of this shameful behavior by another student." They pledged that as a school district they will work to support the student and his family and "stand against speech that hurts belittles other individuals."
You can see a screen capture of the photo below:
