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SANDWICH, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — School officials in Sandwich on Cape Cod are being accused of turning a blind eye to racism and racist acts after a fight between a Black student and a white student.
The fight, that happened at Sandwich High School back in February, involved Ras Russell, a 15-year-old Black student, and an unidentified white student. The white student had allegedly racially bullied Russell for months prior to the fight.
Sandwich High School suspended Russell after the fight and he is yet to return since the incident. He is also facing several charges from the incident, including felony assault with a deadly weapon for allegedly using his shoe during the fight. The white student, who suffered a broken collarbone, faced no charges or discipline from the incident.
Frustrated with the lack of disciplinary action, Russell's family and protesters spoke out at the latest Sandwich School Committee meeting. Russell's aunt, Marguerite Ormon, spoke at the meeting calling out the school for not disciplining the other student.
"You cannot blame him and let the bully have no consequences," she said.
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Margot Critchfield also went to the meeting to support Russell and told the committee it was important to acknowledge the alleged racist bullying that happened before the fight.
"I'm not making excuses for condoning in any way the harm he did," Critchfield said. "But I am calling us to acknowledge that Ras was the first victim here."
Sandwich High School declined to comment on the issue because it involved two juveniles.
WBZ's Tim Dunn (@ConsiderMeDunn) reports.
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