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THREAD: I asked Lamar Superintendent Tess Smith why an Oak Grove High teen who shouted white power wasn't punished—& why students were barred from wearing #BlackLivesMatter 
while others had Blue Lives Matter & Trump flags.
Here's how our convo went. 1/ https://www.mississippifreepress.org/5625/good-trouble-in-a-white-flight-suburb-oak-grove-high-kids-confront-racism/
while others had Blue Lives Matter & Trump flags.Here's how our convo went. 1/ https://www.mississippifreepress.org/5625/good-trouble-in-a-white-flight-suburb-oak-grove-high-kids-confront-racism/
Me: Why allow Blue Lives Matter but not Black Lives Matter at school events?
Smith: "We don’t allow anything political in the building. That’s always been the policy. We try to leave politics at the door."
Me: But isn't Blue Lives Matter political?
2/ https://www.mississippifreepress.org/5625/good-trouble-in-a-white-flight-suburb-oak-grove-high-kids-confront-racism/
Smith: "We don’t allow anything political in the building. That’s always been the policy. We try to leave politics at the door."
Me: But isn't Blue Lives Matter political?
2/ https://www.mississippifreepress.org/5625/good-trouble-in-a-white-flight-suburb-oak-grove-high-kids-confront-racism/
Supt Smith: "The Blue Lives Matter flag was (carried by) a young man whose father was a police officer. That wasn’t deemed political."
Me: What's the difference between him and a student wearing Black Lives Matter whose father is Black?
Smith: "I believe all lives matter."
3/
Me: What's the difference between him and a student wearing Black Lives Matter whose father is Black?
Smith: "I believe all lives matter."
3/
Superintendent Smith: “But when you Google ‘Black Lives Matter,’ it has to do with protesting & that’s something we just try to stay away from, anything controversial. The thin blue line was an American flag, one with a thin blue line. But again, it was not in the building.”
4/
4/
Me: But Blue Lives Matter is used in protests, too.
Smith: “Right. If somebody had Black Lives Matter at the senior run, I don’t think that would’ve been restricted.”
5/ https://www.mississippifreepress.org/5625/good-trouble-in-a-white-flight-suburb-oak-grove-high-kids-confront-racism/
Smith: “Right. If somebody had Black Lives Matter at the senior run, I don’t think that would’ve been restricted.”
5/ https://www.mississippifreepress.org/5625/good-trouble-in-a-white-flight-suburb-oak-grove-high-kids-confront-racism/
Supt. Smith said they haven't identified the student who yelled Black power & that the Trump flag was at a non-school event (students say one was at the senior run, too—on school property).
Students who walked out to protest racism have been punished. 6/ https://www.mississippifreepress.org/5625/good-trouble-in-a-white-flight-suburb-oak-grove-high-kids-confront-racism/
Students who walked out to protest racism have been punished. 6/ https://www.mississippifreepress.org/5625/good-trouble-in-a-white-flight-suburb-oak-grove-high-kids-confront-racism/
About a week after that interview, Superintendent Tess Smith announced her resignation:
“Leaders need to be fresh and effective. I fear my expiration date on both have passed. No person is at fault other than myself. I’ve let this job overtake my life and affect my health." 7/
“Leaders need to be fresh and effective. I fear my expiration date on both have passed. No person is at fault other than myself. I’ve let this job overtake my life and affect my health." 7/
Superintendent Smith: "It’s time that I step back and refocus on faith and family. Please know that I have no regrets.”
The dozens of students who walked out in protest say Oak Grove High/Lamar County School admins haven't agreed to meet with them. https://www.mississippifreepress.org/5625/good-trouble-in-a-white-flight-suburb-oak-grove-high-kids-confront-racism/
The dozens of students who walked out in protest say Oak Grove High/Lamar County School admins haven't agreed to meet with them. https://www.mississippifreepress.org/5625/good-trouble-in-a-white-flight-suburb-oak-grove-high-kids-confront-racism/
