'Slave Auction' Parents Demand Answers From Aledo ISD

Dallas TX

16 April, 2021

11:16 PM

Description

DALLAS — Wearing t-shirts that bore screenshots of the Snapchat "slave auction" of their children, Tamara Lawrence and Mioshi Johnson addressed the Aledo School Board in a meeting Thursday night. What parent would ever want to be put in a situation like that? Johnson faced the dais and told the board members in plain English that she believes the trustees failed the students, the parents and the community in their tepid and muted response. Lawrence said that when she first saw the Snapchat posting, it took her a moment to comprehend what her eyes actually saw. As Lawrence explains it, the group responsible is part of the baseball team at Daniel Ninth Grade Campus — where her son is the only Black team member. Group postings included "bids" on Black students that ranged from $100 to a single dollar. After Johnson notified Lawrence on March 25, the pair met with the ISD police chief the following day. They were also informed that the offending students would miss that day's baseball game and that their sons and the Snapchat participants would not see each other on campus for the remainder of the school year. The women and their families also brought their grievances and suggestions for change to Superintendent Susan Bohn. Lawrence maintains that Bohn "declined" to release a statement about the specific incident, although Bohn's office did eventually issue a statement decrying racism. Neither mother was satisfied. Thursday night, Bohn once again sought to soothe tempers by calling the offenses "shocking" and "unacceptable," but still hasn't answered any questions about what was specifically told to the students responsible and their parents. She has said authorities were called in, but refrains from explaining why, what they did, or what resulted from their participation — if anything. Community change doesn't take place in a day, Bohn said. It doesn't take place ever if all that people in power do is issue statements like "racism is bad." Right. Crime is illegal, too. Got it. Perhaps the most telling moment came when Bohn declared the incident doesn't represent who the Aledo community is. But, if you're a parent who's seen your child put up for "auction" online, then watched as the school board reacted reluctantly and without any demonstrable transparency, wouldn't you have your doubts?