MOUNT GREENWOOD — Students, parents and neighbors of Marist High School offered an array of opinions after classes let out Tuesday on a lawsuit after a thread of racist text messages that went viral.
The suit filed Monday by two fathers claims their daughters were “used as scapegoats” by the school at 4200 W. 115th St. in Mount Greenwood. The suit also claims the five girls disciplined for the texts were part of a religious retreat and thought the messages were private.
The racist exchange surfaced Nov. 6 after a protest following the fatal police shooting of a 25-year-old black man the day before in Mount Greenwood. Black activists said they encountered '60s-style racism as they clashed with demonstrators supporting police.
Meanwhile on Twitter, someone shared a screen shot of a text message reportedly from a Marist student, who said "I F------ HATE N------," to which one of her friends replied, "same."
Two girls were expelled and three others were suspended within days of the thread going viral. And several of those asked Tuesday afternoon felt the swift discipline was justified, including Marist sophomore T.J. Walker of south suburban Midlothian.
Walker, who is black, believes the girls actually got off easy by being able to simply walk away from the situation, and the subsequent lawsuit is frivolous as the expelled students would likely struggle socially if they were even allowed to return to the school.
"Suing doesn't do anything for you," Walker said. "I fell like they should have just left it alone."
Indeed, the unnamed fathers in the lawsuit want their daughters reinstated at the school or reimbursed $65,000 each for tuition and school costs. They also are seeking more than $1 million for privacy invasion.
Sophomores Rebecca O'Brien of Mount Greenwood and Nick McDonough of Midway also felt the punishment was fair. And the two white students feel their whole school is being unfairly labeled as racist as a result of the exchange.
"Now they are judging all of us on how these four people acted," O'Brien said.
But sophomore Jerry Quebbeman of suburban Oak Lawn was more sympathetic. He said the students involved in the incident truly regret her actions and mistakenly saw the thread as a "safe zone."
Rich Danner of Oak Lawn was waiting to pick up his sophomore daughter after school Tuesday. He said Marist officials reacted too quickly and were overly harsh in handing down a punishment. Thus, he believes the lawsuit has merit.
"I think [Marist] jumped to the extreme end," Danner said. The students "couldn't even defend themselves. I think the school kind of caved."
Jason Stephens and his wife own Penthouse Sweets Custom Dessert Studio across the street from Marist at 4043 W. 115th St. in suburban Alsip. A black man, Stephens said students often frequent his store to buy cupcakes or simply chat with the owner.
"They need to leave that alone with that lawsuit. That's utter foolishness," said Stephens, who said the suspensions and expulsions were warranted.
The lawsuit seemingly points to a double standard by highlighting a March 14, 2014 incident in which a black student and Marist football player, according to the suit, tweeted a comment "advocating the killing of white people." That student was required to receive counseling following the comment, the suit argues.
Stephens said that student probably should have been expelled too. Still, he stood by the actions of school officials in the latest incident, adding that reinstating the girls would be a "slap in the face" to black students, parents and teachers at Marist.
Both Tre Harnesberry (left) of Beverly and Chris Brown of Dolton felt the punishment of fellow Marist High School students involved in a racist text message exchange was fair when asked Tuesday. [DNAinfo/Howard A. Ludwig]
Marist student Chris Brown of suburban Dolton felt similarly. He and fellow black student Tre Harnesberry of Beverly both believe Marist was fair in handling the issue.
"If she doesn't get expelled, you never know, maybe another white kid would think it would be OK to say that to me," Brown said.
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