Mark Oliphant College students involved in racial attacks sparked by global coverage of US protests and riots, concerned parent says
Incidents of racial violence are occurring at a northern suburbs school as students react to the shocking footage of protests and riots in the United States, a concerned parent has warned.
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Racially fuelled violence between students has erupted at a northern suburbs public school, amid global coverage of the Black Lives Matter protests.
A concerned parent at Mark Oliphant College, who wanted to remain anonymous, told The Advertiser there had been a number of fights in the schoolyard over the past week where children of African background have been attacked by caucasian students. Some were attended by police, she said.
The parent has called for more Education Department support for students affected by violence.
It comes as protesters prepare to march through the Adelaide CBD on Saturday in solidarity with African-American man George Floyd, who was killed while being arrested in Minneapolis, and those seeking justice against racism in Australia and overseas.
The parent, who understood victimised students were of South African background, said teens already had “heightened attitudes” following home schooling, and the US riots had exacerbated bad behaviour.
“It stems from the (Caucasian) kids calling the black kids n***** … that and the fighting (they see in the US),” the parent said.
“The (victimised) kids are seeing it and saying ‘I am not putting up with it’ either.
“These kids (that are being bullied) need to be heard, so don’t ignore what is going on. Sweeping it under the carpet is what will happen, just like what has happened in America.”
According to SA Police, just after 1.30pm on Wednesday, June 3, officers were called to a Munno Para West school following reports of an assault.
A teenage victim alleged four other teens assaulted her and left her with minor injuries.
Police continue to investigate the incident.
The Advertiser contacted the school for comment, but was directed to the Education Department.
A department spokesman confirmed there had been at least one incident at the school and parents had been “informed and appropriate discipline and counselling put in place”, including suspensions.
“Mark Oliphant College is a proudly multicultural school with a positive culture that actively promotes inclusion and respect – bullying, harassment and violence are not tolerated,” he said.
“The school’s code of conduct makes it clear that any student that engages in unacceptable discriminatory behaviour on the basis of ethnicity, gender or religion will be disciplined.”
The Australian Education Union was contacted for comment.
