A black educator at Beverly Hills High School has raised allegations of racial discrimination following an incident involving a group of students expressing support for Donald Trump.
The students, donned in attire promoting Trump's 'Make America Great Again' (MAGA) campaign, reportedly shouted derogatory remarks about Vice President Kamala Harris on Election Day. The incident has sparked controversy and is reportedly leading to a lawsuit.
According to The Blaze, the teacher, Bella Ivory, who instructs fashion design at the school, recounted her experience with the pro-Trump students to KTTV-TV. "There was just a mob of kids, just so many kids outside my door," Ivory said, adding, "I'm gonna tell you how scary it was." She further claimed that the group attempted to enter her classroom. Brad Gage, Ivory's attorney, told KABC-TV that the students disrupted a Black Student Union meeting led by Ivory.
"Some of the students were shouting 'f*** Kamala' as they walked down the hallway," Ivory stated. "The profanity toward our vice president who is part black combined with students congregating in front of my classroom increased my fears and also the students' fears who were locked inside that room with me."
As reported by The Blaze, Ivory has been vocal about instances of racism on campus since 2022, but her concerns have been largely ignored. Currently on leave due to concerns for her safety, Ivory claims that school administrators promised to meet with her, a promise that has yet to be fulfilled.
KTTV-TV's report also included a clip of a student highlighting a racist comment on a restroom wall and feces on the restroom floor. Another clip featured two female students commenting negatively on the state of the cafeteria after black students had eaten there. Gage interpreted these clips as clear signs of racism, stating, "They are associating the presence of black students with the cafeteria being dirty. That is the epitome of racism."
Gage has filed a formal complaint with the Beverly Hills Unified School District on behalf of Ivory and plans to escalate the case with a lawsuit, citing "discrimination, harassment, retaliation, racial comments, and physical threats." He stated, "Beverly Hills High School, and in fact the city of Beverly Hills, have demonstrated racism again and again against its students and its teachers."
The school district, according to KTTV, has previously stated that it is investigating all claims of racism and harassment to ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all students. However, the school has yet to comment on the impending lawsuit.
This is not the first time Beverly Hills High School has been accused of such behavior. Blaze News readers may recall a similar incident last month when a substitute teacher claimed she was dismissed due to her anti-Trump posts on Facebook. Joanie Garratt told the Los Angeles Times, I was shocked; I thought Id get a warning. I didnt say anything [about Trump] in class. I know not to say anything in class. But I am disgusted with MAGA, and Beverly Hills High School has become MAGA.
In response to the recent incidents, the school has reportedly limited students' ability to assemble in large groups following the pro-Trump students' demonstrations. "While student political expression is an important tenet, it does have limits," Drew Stewart, the high school's principal, said in a statement. "Unfortunately, over the past two days there have been multiple instances of students assembling in a manner that has created a material disruption to the operation of our school, as well as the education of our students."
The ongoing controversy at Beverly Hills High School raises questions about the balance between freedom of expression and maintaining a respectful, inclusive environment. As the school grapples with these issues, the community awaits the outcome of the impending lawsuit and the school's response to these allegations.
Login