Feds step in at Brookline school after allegations of racial bullying

The Black student was allegedly called a "cotton picker," and a white classmate knelt on the their neck to reference George Floyd's murder.

The federal government will investigate a Brookline school after a family alleged multiple instances of racial bullying, including when a student allegedly knelt on a Black middle school classmate’s neck to reference George Floyd’s murder.

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights announced last week that the alleged incidents at Amos A. Lawrence School warrants further investigation.

“Opening the complaint for investigation in no way implies that OCR has made a determination on the merits of the complaint,” its Boston office wrote. “OCR is a neutral fact-finder, collecting and analyzing relevant evidence.”

Complaint: Public Schools of Brookline officials didn’t respond adequately to the incident

Lawyers for Civil Rights filed a federal civil rights complaint in July on behalf of MC Henry, a 14-year-old student who recently completed eighth grade at Amos A. Lawrence School in Brookline. The family alleged that when Henry was called a “cotton picker,” school leadership failed to address the severity of using a racial slur.

“The only step they did take –– to tell the perpetrator to apologize –– was exceedingly minimal, and arguably harmful,” the complaint said. “A forced ‘apology’ trivializes the severity of racial bullying, suggesting that the harm is minor, and that the victim is at fault if they do not immediately forgive the conduct.”

Then, while in a music class, Henry tripped and fell, according to the complaint, and a white student put his knee on Henry’s neck, exclaiming, “George Floyd! George Floyd!” in reference to a Black man murdered by a Minneapolis police officer in 2020.

The complaint said Public Schools of Brookline officials did not respond adequately to the incident. In a statement to Boston.com, Superintendent Linus Guillory said the district received notice of the investigation and is cooperating with OCR.

“By law, OCR investigates complaints of racial harassment at any district receiving federal funding,” Guillory wrote in a statement. “PSB is dedicated to addressing any such issues, took steps to respond to concerns raised by the family at the time of these allegations, and immediately began to review these troubling allegations when we first learned of the Complaint.”

Brookline Town Administrator Charles Carey said the town will ensure PSB “are able to address any issues these troubling allegations raise.”

“Brookline values diversity and inclusion and is committed to creating a welcoming and equitable community for all,” Carey said in a statement. “We reject racism and discrimination and are working towards a more just and equitable future.”

This article was updated to included recent comments from Brookline officials.