Racial Comment by Wauwatosa West Principal Sparks Protest

WAUWATOSA — It all started last week Friday when Wauwatosa West High School principal Frank Calarco walked into a class to check on a substitute teacher.

Calarco reportedly noticed an African-American student seated in the back of the class and according to eyewitness in class that day said, off the cuff, "Can somebody tell this kid it's not the 1960s anymore black people don't have to sit in the back of the classroom."

The class reportedly had fallen silent, shocked at the principal's comment.

According to a report by WTMJ 4, Calarco was deeply apologetic about the incident and explained that he was attempting to talk about social justice in class that day.

"I want to be clear that there was no joke intended. This is a serious subject and I now know that many students are not ready to talk about these issues. I have more work to do before we can have more conversations around social justice," said Calarco in a statement.

Monday

Approximately half the student population attended a peaceful rally during the second hour of classes Monday to protest their principal's comment made Friday. Student Thomas Leonard reportedly gave a speech to the student body regarding Friday's incident.

Watch footage recorded by one of the attendees of the rally Monday:

Wauwatosa School District Superintendent Dr. Phil Ertl, released a statement saying that, "the statement, while not intending to be harmful, was insensitive and inappropriate. Mr. Calarco apologized to students on Friday and again Monday."

Here's what people are saying about the situation at Wauwatosa West:

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