At a recent Denver City Council meeting, a disturbing incident unfolded during a discussion involving young students from Monarch Montessori School. Two Black elementary schoolgirls faced a racist tirade unleashed by an anonymous individual via Zoom as they presented their school project. This harrowing episode, lasting about 30 seconds, disrupted the session meant for public comments, showing a stark violation of democratic values.
The voices of these girls were aimed at advocating for school improvements, specifically a new yurt that could serve as a music class and offer additional classroom space. However, their presentation was maliciously interrupted by a person who used deeply offensive language and said, “Go back to f–ing Africa” and targeted racial slurs. Reacting to the hateful interruption, one of the girls burst into tears and had to be comforted away from the podium by her teacher, Giovanni Breaux, while her brave companion chose to restart her speech despite the upset.
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Council President Jamie Torres, responding to the incident, condemned the vitriolic attack and praised the girls for their courage. “The words were vile, as was the character of a person who would actively seek to say these words to two beautiful and courageous young girls,” Torres stated. His sentiments echo a broader community response that has come out in support of the young speakers.
Amid the shock, the Monarch Montessori community is rallying around its students. Laura Pretty, the school’s Executive Director, plans an event to celebrate their bravery, emphasizing resilience in the face of hate. Additionally, teacher Giovanni Breaux described her deep pain seeing her students subjected to such bigotry, marking a sour note in what was initially a proud moment of civic engagement for the young students.
Despite the interruption, the Council and school officials made sure all students had a chance to deliver their speeches afterward in a safer environment, away from the public’s eye, with Council members offering support.
This shocking incident not only underscored the challenges of maintaining decorum in virtual public platforms but also highlighted the ongoing struggle against racism in public spaces. The City Council is investigating the breach, hoping to prevent future incidents.
