A public meeting called to address racist social media posts by students at a suburban Detroit high school turned volatile when a white parent asked a Hispanic parent, “Why didn’t you stay in Mexico?”
The exchange Monday shocked many who had gathered for a community meeting at the Saline Area Schools district office after white students posted racist messages to black classmates via Snapchat last month.
Ann Arbor Restaraunt owner Adrian Irola was sharing a story about the racial name calling his son was experiencing at Saline H.S. when another parent, Tom Burtell, asked “Why didn’t you stay in Mexico?”pic.twitter.com/3PeP11voNhhttps://t.co/omZga8v11D
— Kayla (@kaylacockrel) February 4, 2020
During the meeting, parent Adrian Iraola spoke about how his son endured racist name-calling by students in the district and described the impact it had on him. His son drew motivation from being called names such as taco, enchilada and nacho, Iraola said, ultimately fueling him to earn a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University.
“I remember when I went to his bedroom to say good night and he was crying because of the abuse that he was enduring in this school system,” said Iraola, who is the owner of an Ann Arbor-based Mexican restaurant. “… Embrace who you are because the bumps and bruises can make you a better person if you have the strength and the faith that can take you where you want to go.”
Tom Burtell, a white man who has children attending schools in the district, then interjected, “Then why didn’t you stay in Mexico?”
The entire room erupted in disgust at Burtell, many telling him that he needs to leave the room. The reaction from the room after the disrespectful comment was made, definitely shows that Burtell was all alone in his thinking process.
Iraola offered the microphone to Burtell, who refused it.
Iraola then stated he would respond to Burtell’s question and that he lives in America because it is “the greatest country in the world.”
