Plymouth Student Shares Racist Video, District Officials Investigate

PLYMOUTH-CANTON, MI — A racist video posted to social media showing a white Plymouth-Canton student threatening to shoot and lynch his black classmates was investigated by the district, Plymouth-Canton school officials said.

"While this incident took place outside of school, the negative impact is felt by our students, staff, and families which disrupts the learning environment," the district's superintendent Monica Merritt said in a statement Monday. "In P-CCS, we do not condone or tolerate reprehensible acts of this nature."

Merritt also said during a Tuesday night board meeting "there is not an active threat, I will say, at our school at this moment."

Although the video was posted in early March, it recently caught the attention of students and parents, some of whom voiced their concerns with WXYZ.

"It created just a pain in my heart that this is what my child, as a teenager, is experiencing at a place where she’s supposed to be learning and growing," one parent told the news station.

In a separate letter sent to parents, district officials said they cannot reveal what disciplinary action the district took against the student involved with the video, but reiterated that all students involved with the video were held accountable according to the K-12 Student Handbook.

District officials also admitted in the letter this was not the first racial discrimination act this year. They also encouraged students to report any racist and threatening behavior to school counselors, who will be available to talk to students.

"We understand that this video has caused trauma and fear among students," officials said. "Administrators, counselors, and support team members are available to listen to students and to give additional support at school."

Canton Police said they opened their own investigation into the racist video and will send the case to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Officer once officials finish the report.