Rep. Cedrick Frazier
PRESS RELEASE
Minnesota House of Representatives
District 45A, 651-296-4255, rep.cedrick.frazier@house.mn
439 State Office Building, St. Paul, MN 55155
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Lindy Sowmick
989-289-8593 or lindy.sowmick@house.mn
February 22, 2022
Legislators speak out against racist remarks from students
SAINT PAUL, MN - Local legislators, House Education Committee leaders, and members of the POCI Caucus released the following statements regarding news of racist taunts directed at the Cooper High School girls’ basketball team a week ago:
“This is a traumatic moment for our kids,'' said Rep. Cedrick Frazier (DFL - New Hope). “I urge New Prague to address and condemn the alleged actions. We need to see accountability. I was at the game on Friday night to show support to the girls. I’ve reached out to the principal, coach and Superintendent and I’ll be doing anything that I can to address this harm to our kids.”
“High school students face enough pressure as it is, without having to deal with racist chants and discrimination. For the sake of the girls who have been harmed, we must see stronger action taken by the school district and the league,” said Rep. Hassan (DFL - Minneapolis), vice chair of the House Education Policy Committee. “This abhorrent behavior harms our entire state and deteriorates our common sense of community and belonging. We have to do better and curb racist behavior wherever it is found.”
“All of our students deserve the decency and dignity to participate in school activities free of discrimination and bigotry,” said Rep. Ruth Richardson (DFL-Mendota Heights), chair of the House Education Policy Committee. “It is clear that racism is not a relic of the past, but continues to traumatize students today. We have much more work to do as a state to educate our communities, especially our youth, about historical trauma Black communities have faced and continue to endure. And as a community, it is our moral and legal obligation to ensure we work together to address these unacceptable acts of hate.”
Legislators in the Education Policy committee have been highlighting proposals to curb bullying. This incident comes in the same week that the head coach of the Minnetonka High School’s girls’ basketball team stepped down due to an racist incident.
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