A Black Lives Matter flag will fly in front of Burlington High School within the week, and it will stay up until the end of the school year.
Members of the BHS Social Justice Union wept with joy and cried “We did it!” after the school board voted unanimously Tuesday night to approve their request to raise the flag.
A ceremony and flag raising is tentatively planned for Monday.
“I’m overwhelmed, honestly. I’m just so happy that they did the right thing and we’re finally heading in the right direction,” said Eliza Abedi, a 17-year-old senior and cofounder of the Social Justice Union.
“This is so beautiful,” said Binti Malawia, a 16-year-old sophomore. “We’re finally being heard.”
The two were among about a half dozen students who appeared before the board. The students read a resolution saying that people of color make up 35 percent of the school district and want to be recognized. “Flying the BLM flag not only recognizes students of color, but it also creates a welcoming ethos and helps to bridge Burlington communities together,” the student resolution stated.
The flag does not mean black lives are more important than others, they said, and instead should be viewed as promoting equality and taking a step toward redressing many years of oppression and institutional racism.
Some critics of the Black Lives Matter movement feel it unfairly stereotypes police and creates racial division with talk of white privilege.
Although students mentioned the possibility of a backlash for flying the flag, there was none during the meeting at Lyman C. Hunt Middle School. The board members briefly debated the details but were supportive. There was no public comment before the vote.
The school board did get a legal opinion, though, from school district general counsel Joe McNeil on the free speech implications of saying yes to the Black Lives Matter flag. A yes to the resolution would not turn the flagpole into a “public forum” that would force the board to approve all flag requests, even ones for highly controversial symbols such as swastikas, McNeil said.
The Burlington students were inspired by a similar effort at Montpelier High School, which raised a Black Lives Matter flag on February 1 at the start of black history month.
The Burlington students were interested in flying the flag every February, but the motion that passed covers just 2018. Acting board chair Stephanie Seguino suggested it might be better for students to return next year to make a fresh request. Mark Porter, the former board chair, supported the resolution and suggested the district offer equal treatment to similar requests from other populations of students in the district, be they Asian American or members of the LGBT community.
Got something to say?
Send a letter to the editor and we'll publish your feedback in print!
BLM flag needs to be taken down! The BLM movement is one sided and only cares for no one! #alllivesmatter.
To prove a point next time California has an earthquake or Forrest fire or south is gets a hurricane lets see BLM raise money to support the victims. Lets see BLM join up and go help with clean up efforts and not Lewd the these places!
BTVong- Did you not read what I quoted from their own website where they state that they support the lives of “all black people- specifically black women”?? Have you not seen the many instances where they are openly holding anti white banners and shouting anti white racist diatribes? Have you not read about white people being ordered to the back during blm protests? they many instances where they are openly calling for violence against officers?
How does that promote equality?
And while you may say they are standing up for black people- we as a nation do not condone violence as a form of curbing what is seen as unfavorable behavior. If we devolve back to that we will quickly lose our sense
as a nation.
and no one is saying they dont matter. The person most likely to kill a black person in America is …..another Black person….If they really want to address the violence against black people- then they are not going in the right direction. and as for police violence- we have recently seen a black officer kill two white vermonters- yet the BLM has said NOTHING about it… Go figure
And to act as though we have some kind of racist problem in Vermont is absolutely absurd. These kids have only known an America that is accepting to all races. They are no more affected by the historical wrongs of the past than any other race. they are not victims
the fact is the flag should not be displayed. Its upsetting that the school board is so afraid that they are bowing to this group because they fear the PC monster that has consumed so many careers.
it is time to stand up- against what is increasingly a divided society based on race
I highly doubt Martin King would have approved of any group that based is agenda on the color of its members skin
Patrick Cashman, I see your point, and am glad you made it. Public schools do have an obligation to maintain political neutrality. Thanks for that perspective.
Snow Creek, I see your point, too. See my response to Patrick. And I agree that you have to look at a group’s actions, not just their marketing. But the KKK? The purpose of the KKK is blatantly violent towards all peoples of non-white heritage. They’ve held lynchings, shot up homes, promoted segregation, pushed people of color out of towns, and systematically murdered, beaten, and terrorized thousands of people. They are a hate-based white supremacy group, as shown by their actions and their marketing. They’re evil beyond all interpretations.
I haven’t seen anything of the like from BLM to suggest that they’re a black supremacy group, or even an anti-white group. If I’m missing something, someone please point it out.
Our society has told black people that they don’t matter throughout our entire history. Why is it wrong for them to stand up and say that they do?
Wow, Ms. Alsop, congratulations to you on Understanding! Dont worry, we dont resent you for lecturing to us well-intentioned but unenlightened people! We admire you! After all, we are blind but you See! Sadly, we will never get to where you already are.
BTVONG- the KKK only seeks to end the violence and displacement of white people
Should they get to fly their flag?
why should ANY race based supremecy group be given a billboard to advertise ?
and it IS a billboard- you can shop at their ever changing website… which has since changed from what I quoted yesterday….