Racial Slurs And Lynching Image Trigger Palisades Charter Hate Crime Investigation

PACIFIC PALISADES, CA — A Pacific Palisades charter school is again at the center of a criminal hate crime investigation after a black student was taunted with racial slurs and a doctored image of her being lynched. As first reported by KTLA, the harassment began shortly after 15-year-old Aina Shola Adewunmi transferred to Palisades Charter High School in January.

“They were using the n-word, and I was like, ‘OK, this is what this year is going to be like,’” she told KTLA.
Aina said a group of boys continued to make racist comments about her appearance. Then last month an image of her altered to look as if she had been lynched was circulated.

She told a KTLA reporter she felt “more disgust than sadness, because everyone knows there’s ignorant people in the world, and you’re going to encounter them at any turn.”

Aina reported to the incident to the school Principal Pam Magee, who issued a statement condemning the harassment.

“The conduct of the students was egregious and contrary to the mission and values of our school, our students, our staff, and our community, and is not tolerated at PCHS. Although I cannot reveal discipline details due to privacy laws, I can confirm that the students who were involved in these acts have been disciplined, and will not be on the PCHS campus for at least the remainder of the current school year, Magee wrote. “PCHS took immediate action as soon as it learned of the incident on May 23, and we are continuing to investigate the circumstances and other potential misconduct by the students. In addition to taking action to remove the students from the educational environment and provide education on why this is such a reprehensible act, various supports have been offered to and accepted by the victim. These efforts will continue to ensure her educational and other rights are protected.”

However, Aina’s mother said she still has concerns about the school’s handling of the incident.

“I need more," Tracy Adewunmi told KTLA. "Initially during the mediation, when we suggested expulsion, they said no.”

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Ultimately, the incident was reported as a hate crime to the Los Angeles Police Department. It’s the second time in a year, the police were called to deal with a race-related hate crime on the campus. Last year police arrested and cited students for spray-painting swastikas and references to gays and the KKK on campus.

For her part, Aina refuses to see herself as a victim.

“I don’t think I’m a victim at all," she said. "I think this was a hate crime, yes, but with the support I’ve gotten from the people at this school, there’s no such thing as a victim here. It’s more like empowerment.”

Click here to see the full KTLA story. Photo: KTLA Screengrab