By Marlene Dolla
(LEGACY) – A few dozen Mechanicsville High School graduating seniors and their friends and family members protested the graduation speeches of the school’s valedictorian and salutatorian following alleged hateful rhetoric from the two students. This included group chat and social media posts allegedly using racial and homophobic slurs as well as sexist posts rating their female teenage classmates based on looks and sexual appeal.
Those protesting turned their backs on the speakers and instead faced the crowd seated behind them. The Hanover County branch of the national civil rights group, NAACP, suggested this method of protest, noting that a silent protest would not lead to graduation ceremonies being “destroyed for everyone because of” the speakers.
“The two young men in question have been allowed to go through Hanover schools without any consequences for these actions,” said Patricia Hunter-Jordan, president of the Hanover County NAACP in a statement. “I feel sorry for their lack of understanding of all people in our society, and wish they would have been educated about humanity.”
Hunter-Jordan detailed that during a school board meeting during the just completed school year, a parent spoke about her student wanting to drop out of her advanced studies classes because of the actions of one of these students …
“The teacher had no control over this student and the remaining students suffered because of his actions,” noted Hunter-Jordan.” Was he removed? No, the remaining students had to suffer at his expense. This is not a one time incident for these students this happens daily in our Hanover schools.”
Parents and friends who protested at the graduation ceremony, alongside their graduating children, said they were disappointed the school and county rewarded the valedictorian, identified as Jacob s. And the salutatorian, identified as Caleb L. This publication is withholding their last names as they may still be minors.
“These are very rude people who are comfortable using the ‘N’-word… with a hard R. It’s just sad that they didn’t experience the consequences of their actions,” said Larry Rasmussen, who supported the protest.
Hanover County is a Republican Party stronghold and boasts a population that is more than 60 percent white. The county participated in Virginia’s Massive Resistance, a late 1950-early 1960s movement meant to prevent racial integration in schools and to keep away black students. Formerly known as Lee-Davis High School since its inception in 1959 and named for Civil War Confederate generals, Jefferson Davis and Robert E. Lee, Mechanicsville High School changed its name in 2020 following the nationwide U.S. ‘summer of racial unrest’ protests triggered by the killing of the unarmed George Floyd by Minnesota Police officers.
