An African American security guard asked a student to not call him the n-word. That request got him fired

[Teh One Who Knocks]

By Nexstar Media Group


https://i.imgur.com/ar23gufl.jpg

MADISON, Wis. – An African American security guard told a student to stop calling him the n-word. It cost him his job.

Marlon Anderson was a security guard at Madison West High School in Wisconsin. Last Wednesday, he was called in to help the assistant principal escort a student from school grounds, he told CNN.

The student was resisting, including yelling and pushing the principal. Anderson called for backup, and the student started yelling expletives at him, including the racial slur, Anderson said.

At first, Anderson said he asked the student to stop calling him that, without saying the word. But the student continued to call him different variations of the word.

Finally, Anderson said he responded: “Don’t call me (n-word).”

That’s the comment that got him fired.

A ‘zero-tolerance’ policy

When contacted for comment, the school did not respond directly to Anderson’s firing, but said it has a zero-tolerance policy for the use of racial slurs.

“We are working to make our school climates the best they can be for all students and staff,” said Gloria Reyes, president of the Madison Board of Education in a statement. “We’ve taken a tough stance on racial slurs, and we believe that language has no place in schools.”

But Anderson doesn’t agree with the policy.

“The district just wants to say you can’t use this word, period,” he told CNN. “These policies are hurting the kids and staff. Without context this isn’t helpful; it’s more hurtful.”

The school board plans on reviewing their approach, Reyes continued in the statement.

Anderson is represented by a union, which filed a grievance with the school district this week on his behalf. He’s seeking reinstatement and back pay, according to a statement from the union.

Anderson had been working at the school district for 11 years. He has two sons who attended Madison West High School. One is a current senior and the other is a graduate of the high school.

Anderson isn’t without his supporters, though. The Boys & Girls Club of Dane County hired Anderson as its temporary director of program operations. In a Facebook post announcing the hire, the nonprofit wrote that Anderson has “an amazing track record” with local teens.

CNN affiliate WKOW reported that Madison West students staged a walkout on Friday in support of Anderson.

And if that wasn’t enough, singer Cher even offered to pay his legal fees if he chooses to sue.

[Muddy]

Zero tolerance.

[Teh One Who Knocks]

They're lucky that he just didn't haul off and deck the kid instead.

[Goofy]

Necrophiliac? :-k

[Muddy]

They're lucky that he just didn't haul off and deck the kid instead.

For name-calling? Strike a minor in a school?

[PorkChopSandwiches]

:rofl:

[Teh One Who Knocks]

The Associated Press


https://i.imgur.com/vI5mX9tl.jpg

MADISON, Wis. — A Wisconsin school district is rehiring a black security guard after he was fired last week for repeating a racial slur while telling a student not to use it, a union official said Monday.

Doug Keillor, executive director of Madison Teachers Inc., said that the union was contacted by school officials Monday saying interim Superintendent Jane Belmore decided to rescind the firing of Marlon Anderson.

Anderson said in a Facebook post Monday afternoon, "I'm back!!" He said he learned of his rehiring while at his new job Monday.

"Thank you to the 1,000 plus students for allowing your voices to be heard and to all the people from across the globe for reaching out to my family," Anderson said in his post.

Keillor said Anderson, 48, will be on paid leave as he works with the district on a transition plan back to the school.

"We are very pleased," Keillor told The Associated Press.

In a statement to staff, Belmore said she is "prepared to take appropriate steps in the current situation, and I will begin to work with our administrative team to ensure that we mitigate any harm that was caused and begin the healing process and give the board time to review our practice."

"Our commitment to anti-racism and to use the input from community, especially our students is unwavering," Belmore said.

Earlier, Madison School Board President Gloria Reyes said she asked the superintendent to rescind Anderson's termination and to review the use of racial slurs in school.

"As we experienced a series of racial slurs last school year, we had to take a stand — that we would unequivocally protect students from harm. That we would never excuse the deep pain of this hateful, violent language, regardless of intent," Reyes said.

But she added: "It is important that we do not harm those that we are trying to protect."

It was unclear if Reyes was speaking for herself or the entire school board. She did not immediately return messages seeking comment Monday.

Earlier, Anderson said he was not angry about his firing because he has received "a busload of love" from supporters.

Anderson told WMTV-TV on Sunday that he hasn't had time to be upset because of support he has received. He said people have stopped him on the street to hug him. Students from Madison West High School also staged a walkout Friday in support.

Anderson said he was responding to a call Oct. 9 about a disruptive student when the student, who is black, called him obscenities, including the N-word. Anderson told the student not to call him that, repeating the slur.

The school district has said it has a zero-tolerance policy on employees using racial slurs.

Reyes had said last week she wanted the district to resolve a grievance over Anderson's firing as quickly as possible.

The school fired Anderson on Wednesday, but the Boys & Girls Club of Dane County hired him and he started Monday.

"I didn't have an opportunity to be mad, scared, worried or anything. I just got hit with a busload of love," Anderson said.