Latino political group accuses district of bias
A Mexican-American political group will legally challenge the school district, claiming it has violated dozens of students’ civil rights by allegedly disciplining them because of their race.
The threat comes on the heels of an investigation that was launched in June by the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District in response to claims that minorities are expelled and suspended unfairly.
Members of the local chapter of the Mexican Political Association have said they will file a complaint against the school district with the U.S. Department of Justice. The department of justice would then investigate the complaints and file charges if necessary.
The group’s activists said they are helping several parents fill out paperwork requesting an outside investigation.
“We are no longer going to tolerate harassment and discrimination at our schools,” said Natalie Preciado, a co-chair of the Santa Monica chapter. “A simple apology or an inside investigation is not the answer. Civil rights have been violated.”
“We are no longer going to tolerate harassment and discrimination at our schools.” — — NATALIE PRECIADO Mexican Political Association
Preciado and about a dozen parents say their children have been targeted for discipline because of their race. They said a recent school district report to the state Department of Education shows while Latino children make up less than 40 percent of all students in the district, they represent roughly 60 percent of all those being suspended or expelled.
The kids were disciplined for a variety of different infractions including carrying weapons, drugs and using obscenities.
Schools superintendent John Deasy said he is surprised that members of the Mexican Political Association demonstrated at a June 27 school board meeting. He also is surprised that the group finds fault with what the district is doing to combat claims of bias in its discipline policy.
“We were unaware they were coming to speak that evening,” Deasy said. “And they have not attempted to form a partnership with us, unlike when the Mothers of Justice came to the board, because we knew of them and of their cause before they came to the board.”
Mothers for Justice has partnered with district administrators to form a 25-member task force on racism and discipline in the schools. The task force has been meeting regularly and is recommending how the district can make its disciplinary policies more equitable.
The Mexican Political Association’s Santa Monica chapter mostly consists of activists who are unhappy with the direction taken by Mothers for Justice, which formed in June in response to perceived issues of bias.
Parents in the Mexican Political Association, many of whom also are members of Mothers for Justice, say a more dramatic course needs to be taken. “(The school district) can’t police themselves,” Preciado said. “These kids have been arrested and given felony records; that’s something that is not erasable.”
Some members of Mothers for Justice said they don’t have a problem with the Mexican Political Association weighing in on alleged bias issues in the school district or the tactics the group is using.
“It’s a different approach and I think that the mothers and the other community members have a right to address their concerns in the way it will have the most impact,” said Maria Loya, a leader in Mothers for Justice. “If these community members feel by creating their own group they will have more of an impact, then that is fine.”
Others involved in the issue said though the two groups have the same members, they are separate groups.
“It’s mostly a different agenda,” said Oscar de la Torre, a member of the district’s task force. “The Mexican Political Association is taking a more statewide and national approach.”
“The Mexican Political Association is taking a more statewide and national approach.” — — OSCAR DE LA TORRE Task force member
And de la Torre said he sees nothing wrong with the Mexican Political Association’s insistence in involving the federal government. Though he applauds the school district’s response to minority parents’ concerns, he said feelings are still hurt.
“I think it’s a proactive response (by the school district),” he said. “But in some cases it’s too little too late, in regards to some individual cases.
“There has been some irreparable harm (done) to some youths and their families,” he added.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 5, 2002. Read the original PDF.