More than 300 Pittsford-Sutherland and Pittsford-Mendon High School students walked out of classes Wednesday, protesting what they thought was a “passive” response to racially offensive videos posted by a Pittsford student on social media.
The most recent video was found last week and featured a student making racial insults while holding what turned out to be an Airsoft pistol. It was investigated by the Pittsford Central School District and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, which stationed a deputy at Pittsford-Sutherland this week. The video was posted four months ago, but Superintendent Michael Pero only learned of it on Friday.
Students called for a rewriting of the code of conduct to crack down on racist acts, and for penalties to be increased.
Superintendent Pero spoke with the students and said the district has an opportunity to do better.