(NewsNation) — A Beverly Hills High School teacher has filed a legal complaint alleging widespread racism on campus and that school administrators have failed to address multiple incidents of racial harassment.
Bella Ivory, the teacher at the center of the lawsuit, and civil rights attorney Brad Gage have documented several instances of alleged racist behavior, including racial slurs, offensive comments and intimidating conduct targeting Black, Latino and LGBTQ+ students.
“The school has been aware of these problems and has not taken any action to stop it. The school is responsible for the actions of the students and must take immediate and effective corrective action,” Gage said Wednesday on NewsNation’s “On Balance.”
Gage said incidents include racist graffiti in bathrooms, students using racial epithets and a particularly tense Election Day event where students wearing MAGA hats shouted profanities about Vice President Kamala Harris.
The lawyer told NewsNation there were several specific incidents, including a video showing students mocking Black students in the school cafeteria and another capturing racist comments scrawled on bathroom walls.
Ivory said that students shouted offensive language and congregated outside her classroom, creating an environment of fear for Black students. She claims the school’s response to her reports has been inadequate, Fox Los Angeles reported.
Gage noted this is part of a broader pattern of racial issues in Beverly Hills, referencing a separate class-action lawsuit involving 1,085 Black individuals alleging racial profiling by the Beverly Hills Police Department.
The Beverly Hills Unified School District has stated it is investigating the claims and working to ensure a safe, inclusive environment for all students, Fox Los Angeles reported.
Gage is seeking to hold the school accountable for what he describes as a systemic failure to address racial harassment.
“Numerous individuals at that school have been aware of the N-word, physical violence and threats towards black students, Latino students, lesbian and gay students, as well as black teachers, and they have not taken any type of corrective action,” Gage said.
