Military Family Withdraws Two Girls From School After Alleged Racist Harassment
A military family in El Paso has removed two teenage daughters from their high school after the mother said the girls faced racial harassment that later led to a fight in the school cafeteria.
Precious Starks said her daughters, Brooke and Taniya, are now being homeschooled. She made the decision after becoming concerned about their safety and what she felt was an inadequate response from the school.
Harassment Reported in the Classroom
Starks said the problems began when Brooke told her that students in one of her classes were throwing objects at her. One object nearly struck Brooke in the face.
Brooke confronted the student she believed had thrown it and told him to stop. She then reported the incident to a teacher.
Starks said her daughters had also told her about racial comments at school. Brooke was often the target, especially in one class where she was the only Black student.
Brooke told her mother that she had mentioned the comments to teachers. Starks believed the complaints were being passed to school administrators, but she later learned that might not have happened.
For a short time, Brooke thought the problem had ended. Starks said that changed when a confrontation took place in the cafeteria several days later.
Fight Erupts in the Cafeteria
Starks said several students approached her daughters during lunch. One student asked Brooke what she had said to the student’s brother. The question was followed by an attack, which started a fight involving both girls.
The incident was recorded on a cellphone and later shared online. Starks said the video shows one student throwing Taniya to the ground. In the recording, Taniya appears to be wearing a red shirt and white pants.
After the fight, Starks met with the school principal and a school officer. She said she disagreed with how the incident was reviewed and with the punishment given to the students involved.
Starks said the officer told her she could file charges against only one student. The officer believed the other student appeared to be holding Taniya back rather than attacking her.
Starks disagreed. She said the video clearly shows the student body-slamming her daughter.
Mother Questions School Response
The students received in-school suspensions. Starks said that punishment did not make her feel that her daughters would be protected when they returned to campus.
Concerned about another confrontation, she decided to take both girls out of school and begin homeschooling.
Starks also said she was disappointed that almost no one from the school contacted her after the fight. She said only one teacher reached out to ask about the girls and their condition.
According to Starks, that teacher said similar problems had existed at the school for a long time. The teacher also expressed disappointment with the way the school system handled such concerns.
Starks said the situation has caused deep pain for her family. She believes students, teachers, parents, school leaders and law enforcement must all take responsibility when harassment or violence occurs.
Community Leaders Call for Action
The cafeteria fight drew attention from a local civil rights leader. During a public gathering about another video involving teenagers dressed in clothing associated with a white supremacist group, the leader also discussed the attack involving the two girls.
The leader said the two incidents raised serious concerns about racism and student safety in the community. The comments added to calls for a broader response from families, schools and local leaders.
Starks said people should not remain silent when they see someone being targeted.
“When you see something happen, you have to get involved,” she said. “You have to hold people accountable. You have to be the voices of the victims.”
Family Wants Accountability
Starks said her family teaches its children to treat others with love and respect. She believes her daughters should be able to attend school without fear of racial harassment or physical harm.
Her main goal is accountability and a safer school environment for every student.
School administrators said student safety and well-being are top priorities. They said concerns are reviewed under established procedures and that disciplinary decisions follow school policies and the student code of conduct.
The school system also said it cannot discuss individual students, punishments or the specific details of the incident because student privacy laws limit what can be shared.
A military family in El Paso has removed two teenage daughters from their high school after the mother said the girls faced racial harassment that later led to a fight in the school cafeteria.
Precious Starks said her daughters, Brooke and Taniya, are now being homeschooled. She made the decision after becoming concerned about their safety and what she felt was an inadequate response from the school.
Harassment Reported in the Classroom
Starks said the problems began when Brooke told her that students in one of her classes were throwing objects at her. One object nearly struck Brooke in the face.
Brooke confronted the student she believed had thrown it and told him to stop. She then reported the incident to a teacher.
Starks said her daughters had also told her about racial comments at school. Brooke was often the target, especially in one class where she was the only Black student.
Brooke told her mother that she had mentioned the comments to teachers. Starks believed the complaints were being passed to school administrators, but she later learned that might not have happened.
For a short time, Brooke thought the problem had ended. Starks said that changed when a confrontation took place in the cafeteria several days later.
Fight Erupts in the Cafeteria
Starks said several students approached her daughters during lunch. One student asked Brooke what she had said to the student’s brother. The question was followed by an attack, which started a fight involving both girls.
The incident was recorded on a cellphone and later shared online. Starks said the video shows one student throwing Taniya to the ground. In the recording, Taniya appears to be wearing a red shirt and white pants.
After the fight, Starks met with the school principal and a school officer. She said she disagreed with how the incident was reviewed and with the punishment given to the students involved.
Starks said the officer told her she could file charges against only one student. The officer believed the other student appeared to be holding Taniya back rather than attacking her.
Starks disagreed. She said the video clearly shows the student body-slamming her daughter.
Mother Questions School Response
The students received in-school suspensions. Starks said that punishment did not make her feel that her daughters would be protected when they returned to campus.
Concerned about another confrontation, she decided to take both girls out of school and begin homeschooling.
Starks also said she was disappointed that almost no one from the school contacted her after the fight. She said only one teacher reached out to ask about the girls and their condition.
According to Starks, that teacher said similar problems had existed at the school for a long time. The teacher also expressed disappointment with the way the school system handled such concerns.
Starks said the situation has caused deep pain for her family. She believes students, teachers, parents, school leaders and law enforcement must all take responsibility when harassment or violence occurs.
Community Leaders Call for Action
The cafeteria fight drew attention from a local civil rights leader. During a public gathering about another video involving teenagers dressed in clothing associated with a white supremacist group, the leader also discussed the attack involving the two girls.
The leader said the two incidents raised serious concerns about racism and student safety in the community. The comments added to calls for a broader response from families, schools and local leaders.
Starks said people should not remain silent when they see someone being targeted.
“When you see something happen, you have to get involved,” she said. “You have to hold people accountable. You have to be the voices of the victims.”
Family Wants Accountability
Starks said her family teaches its children to treat others with love and respect. She believes her daughters should be able to attend school without fear of racial harassment or physical harm.
Her main goal is accountability and a safer school environment for every student.
School administrators said student safety and well-being are top priorities. They said concerns are reviewed under established procedures and that disciplinary decisions follow school policies and the student code of conduct.
The school system also said it cannot discuss individual students, punishments or the specific details of the incident because student privacy laws limit what can be shared.
- Brooke and Taniya were removed from school and are being homeschooled.
- The family says racial comments and classroom harassment happened before the cafeteria fight.
- The mother disputes how the video and the students’ actions were interpreted.
- The students received in-school suspensions.
- Community leaders are calling for stronger action on racism, harassment and school safety.