A California vice principal is reportedly placed on paid leave after he racially profiled three Black teenage girls in their gated community.
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Fred Veenedaal, vice principal at Sunnyside High School in Fresno, was caught on tape chatting on his mobile phone and alleging that there are “three Section 8 people here, ghetto girls.” According to Raw Story, it’s unclear how the fight started, and the teens, Kyra Schrubb, 17, Bri’janae Lewis, 17, and a friend, claimed they were only passing through the neighborhood to cut their walk in half.
Kyra’s mom explained to FOX 26 that they knew someone who lived in the neighborhood and took a shortcut to avoid taking a longer route whenever they walked to the store. Usually, the shortcut saves them about ten minutes, but this time it took too long because of the encounter with Veenedaal.
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Kyra said his words hurt them because he racially profiled them based on their skin color and should’ve left them alone.
“It was unnecessary. You didn’t have to do all that, you didn’t have to racial profile for no reason. I feel so bad because like as a black woman, I should be able to walk…and just walk peacefully without, you know, being racist for no reason,”
Kyra lived in the neighborhood for four years and Bri’janae has lived there for six years. They said they found out he worked as a vice principal at Sunnyside High after posting the video on social media, and the police never showed up.
Veenendaal’s employer released a statement and said he was on paid leave while they investigated the situation.
“We are aware of the video circulating, and the district started an investigation into the matter early Monday. The labels used in the video do not align with the high standards we have for our Fresno Unified leaders and staff,” the district reportedly said in its media statement. “We want to assure our families that having respectful, inclusive, and loving adults serving in our school is of the utmost importance to Sunnyside and our district as a whole.”
After the video made its rounds on social media, the public called for firing Veenendaal as some believed his actions reflected racism and bigotry.
@fresnounified Fire Fred Veenendaal! No paid leave, No EXCUSES! Get the bigot away from our kids! TODAY!
— april ⚢ (@a___rho) April 21, 2023
@CityofFresno – fire the #racist vice principal – #FredVeenendaal
— Kathy Worth (@Orang3cat1231) April 21, 2023
Extra depressing/disturbing considering his job. He has no business working near children.
— Lorraine (@CrimsonGash) April 21, 2023
Last year, the district encountered a similar problem involving racism when a kid uploaded a handmade Ku Klux Klan hood, causing student outrage. Hundreds of students protested, and Black student groups called administrators to hold them accountable for racism.