Some of the Asian students who were boycotting South Philadelphia High School over alleged racially motivated violence returned to class Tuesday.
The students who went back to school wanted to “check out the climate,” said Helen Gym at Asian Americans United, a group assisting the students.
Philly Mayor Michael Nutter was proud of the strides made to get these students back to class, calling it “good news.”
“Many of the students who had not been coming to school… returned to school today,” Nutter said at a press conference Tuesday. “I’m proud of the students already in school for welcoming theses students back.”
But, some students continued their boycott because they feared for their safety despite increased security at the school.
The return to classes came a day after city officials held a meeting to discuss the attacks on about 30 students earlier this month. Superintendent Arlene Ackerman and South Philadelphia High School principal LaGreta Brown attended the meeting of the city's Human Relations Commission. The boycotting students were invited but did not attend.
The meeting was part of a process to open lines of communication and avoid a lawsuit, said officials.
Politics
The students began boycotting on Dec. 4, saying the school hasn’t done enough to prevent violence following attacks.
