First-Grader Racially Targeted by White Peers in Georgia School: Parents Outraged Over Administration's Response

The parents of a 6-year-old Black girl from the Atlanta region have initiated a federal lawsuit against the DeKalb County School District, asserting that their daughter experienced racial harassment and physical assaults at Ashford Park Elementary School. Among the troubling incidents cited, one in 2024 involved a group of students allegedly cornering the child, scratching her face, and pulling her by the hair while shouting “attack.” Cathea and Albenis Terminio claim the mistreatment began shortly after enrolling their daughter in 2023, escalating with school authorities failing to intervene. Despite repeatedly alerting school officials, their appeals for a safety plan went unaddressed, leading to Cathea being forbidden to communicate with faculty. Additionally, she received menacing emails urging the family to leave the community. The situation raises significant concerns about systemic issues within the school’s environment.