Students organize Pickering protest following school district promotion reversal

By: Tatyana Woodall

In response to the summer reversal of one Pickering assistant principal's promotion after a photo of her daughter posed in front of graffiti reminiscent of N.W.A's most notorious hit circulated on social media, Ohio State students have organized a protest this week.

Member of the Student’s Revolution Against Racial Injustice, Shayanna Hinkle-Moore said in an email to the community that the peaceful march will begin at the Pickering School Board of Education and end at Pickerington Central High School. 

“At the pinnacle of the Black Lives Matter protests held this summer in response to the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and others, a local educator - Damicka Bates - had her promotion rescinded,” Hinkle-Moore wrote. “For such, Mrs. Bates’ educational merit and astronomical record were put under vehement scrutiny by auspices of the Blue Lives Matter countermovement.”

Advocates for Bates’ cause also presented a list of demands to the PSBE last Friday, urging board members to investigate the current principal, Ruth Stickel, for racially insensitive posts of her own. Community stakeholders also made a plea to fill more board positions with people of color who could represent underserved groups, but were denied.  

“The idea of installing a Diversity & Inclusion Director was specifically disposed of for financial reasons. Community members present at the meeting were told that the cost would be too great for the creation and maintenance of such a position.” Hinkle-Moore’s email stated. 

The protest will take place this Friday, October 16, 2020 at 6pm. For more information or help getting to location, email s.hinklemoore@gmail.com.