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Michelle Obama’s brother, his wife sues Milwaukee private school for alleged racism

Michelle Obama’s brother and sister-in-law have filed a lawsuit against their child’s former Milwaukee private school, alleging that the two boys were unfairly kicked out after they raised concerns about racism ethnicity.

Craig and Kelly Robinson enrolled their sons, ages 11 and 9, at the University of Milwaukee (USM) in 2016. School officials expelled them. last year stated in the letter that the Robinsons “violated the College’s Common Trust and failed to live up to their commitment as partners to USM,” according to a lawsuit filed Monday in a Milwaukee county courthouse. .

Craig Robinson and his wife Kelly Robinson arrive for a state dinner in Washington on August 2, 2016.
Craig Robinson and his wife Kelly Robinson arrive for a state dinner in Washington on August 2, 2016.Yuri Gripas/AFP via Getty Images

But the Robinsons say the school retaliated against them because they verbally complained and submitted incident reports of bias about schoolwork and offensive assignments, the lawsuit states.

Craig Robinson told NBC affiliate: “It just doesn’t seem fair that they retaliate against a 9- and 11-year-old for something we brought in to help the school. WTMJ by Milwaukee.

The couple said they chose USM because it ranks as the best in the area and appreciates itself for diversity. However, in November 2020, they told faculty and staff that some of the languages ​​included in the different worksheets and projects “are offensive to people of color, people with disabilities, and Native Americans.” local and other low-educated students,” the lawsuit said.

In January 2021, Kelly Robinson filed a bias incident report through the School’s Bias Incident Reporting System for classwork that included “content harmful to low-achieving students” , according to the lawsuit. She submitted a second report in March 2021 on “similarly related languages” in a separate mandate.

The lawsuit says the school acknowledged that it received the report but took no further action.

The Robinsons say they were shocked when in April 2021 they received a letter notifying that their 11-year-old boy had been denied re-enrollment, according to the lawsuit. In June 2021, they received a second letter telling them that their 9-year-old had also been removed.

In both letters obtained by NBC News, Steven Hancock, the school’s superintendent, accused the Robinsons of failing to fulfill “the above commitments as a partner with USM” and of engaging in conversations “disrespectful” about staff and teachers.

Hancock concluded the letters by asking the Robinsons to find other schools for their children.

“While part of this broader pattern of misconduct, the School’s treatment of the Robinson children is directed at them, despite their exemplary behavior, and therefore particularly egregious and harmful,” the lawsuit said. “The defendant’s draconian and unprecedented act in removing two teenage children of color from their schools at an impressive age has been traumatizing.”

The school charges about $30,000 a year in tuition, it said in one declare told the school community that it could not comment on specific matters related to the lawsuit but denied that the removal of the student was due to a complaint by the parents.

“We cannot and will not tolerate disrespectful behavior, bullying or harassment repeatedly directed at our dedicated and hard-working teachers and administrators,” Hancock said in the statement. “Such conduct that makes faculty members feel unsafe not only violates our Common Trust commitment and the School-Parent Partnership, it also impedes USM’s operations and thwarts our relationship.” positive and constructive working relationship between schools and the families we are proud to serve When such parental behavior threatens the educational environment we have created, we have no no choice but to act.”

Hancock went on to say that the school is “very proud of the supportive and inclusive community we intentionally create.”

“For that reason, we embrace diversity in all its forms,” ​​says Hancock.

The lawsuit further alleges that the school failed to discipline white students who “used racial slurs, acted in a racist manner toward students of color, or threatened students of color.” color based on their race.”

It also describes an incident that is believed to have occurred before the boys entered school. According to the lawsuit, fourth-graders were forced to participate in an Underground Railroad simulation where students of color were supposed to act like runaway slaves when staff members posed as slave catchers.

Students would then move through dark hallways and classrooms while staff “played sounds that evoke whips, chains, and galloping horses,” according to the lawsuit. According to the lawsuit, if students do not participate, they will face low grades or failure to pass fourth grade.

The school continued to conduct simulations into the 2010s and only stopped after many students of color and USM parents complained, the lawsuit states.

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