WOODBURY, Minn. – Racial justice advocates call for action and accountability.
That’s after allegations that a The substitute teacher reenacted the murder of George Floyd on a student.
Footage, which may be disturbing for some to watch, shows what students describe as substitute teacher, Steven Williams, with a knee on a student’s neck.
A reenactment of the police actions that resulted in the murder of George Floyd.
We know that the substitute teacher in question, Steven Williams, is no longer employed by the staffing agency, Teachers on Call, that contracts Woodbury High School for its substitute teachers.
Williams is a police officer in Prescott, Wisconsin.
The police chief says he is on administrative leave pending the results of an investigation into the case.
“It was blatant, insensitive and racist,” said Nekima Levy Armstrong, a civil rights attorney.
Racial justice advocates say more needs to be done.
“Being a substitute teacher anywhere in the state of Minnesota should be banned,” Levy Armstrong said. ‘I also believe he should be fired. Who would want a person like that coming to your door when you have to call 911, who harbors a lot of racist views? [animosity]who claims there is no such thing as police brutality and who is willing to demonstrate a highly lethal police technique on a young black boy.”
Woodbury High School has issued a statement to parents about what they describe as a racially harmful situation that has affected the school community.
It listed comments and actions that students described — including claims that he can get away with murder and that police brutality is not real.
‘I think more drastic measures need to be taken. I also think there is a lot of repair work needed in the Woodbury school district. They must go beyond making a statement and create opportunities for dialogue for students. be heard,” said Levy Armstrong.
The Minnesota Department of Education has not yet responded to our request for Williams’ employment history.
Woodbury High School says the director of Equity and Inclusion and other leaders will work to repair the harm done to students and staff.
