Story by Katie Hohman Staff Writer Photo by Katelyn Hernandez Staff Photographer The City Council yielded to resident criticisms of the possible appointment of Christopher Jordan to the position of City Manager, and decided to rescind his employment agreement that was pending approval, at a special closed session meeting on Tuesday, Apr. 20. Per a press release, […]
Don’t justify misogyny as racial progress
Story by Georgia ParsonsAssociate Feature Editor Illustration by Nicholas FormanStaff Illustrator Throughout history, white women have helped to maintain the system of white supremacy ingrained in this country. Although often painted as passive characters, white women have also held large and overt roles. For example, white women developed their own branch of a white supremacist […]
SPHS data highlights racial inequities
Story by Sofia Alva News Associate Editor Photo by Ella Jayasekera Photography Editor Graphics by Charlotte Cohen Associate Design Editor The district’s annual School Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA) revealed evidence of racism and other inequities at SPHS. The data, which analyzes performance level across a variety of demographics, generated severe criticism from parents and students. The SPSA […]
Student experiences survey aims to address oppression at SPHS
Story by Lilian Zhu Staff Writer The ASB Wellness Team, in conjunction with the counselors and social worker Natasha Prime, released a Google form for current students to share their experiences with racism, homophobia, sexism, and other forms of oppression at SPHS. Students are also encouraged to give constructive feedback on how SPHS can become a […]
Students share experiences of racism at Peer Mediators’ BIPOC panel
Story by Eddie Zhou Staff Writer Illustration courtesy of Peer Mediators Contributor Students discussed their experiences with racism at SPHS at a Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) panel hosted by the Peer Mediators’ Social Justice Committee on Monday, Oct. 19. These anecdotes, shared both anonymously and by panel attendees, shined a light on the […]
Residents question SPPD’s ties to anti-LGBTQ+ hate group
Story by Sofia Alva Staff Writer Photo by Tony Chen Contributor Community members are calling for an investigation into the SPPD for its planned public prayer event with an anti-Black and anti-LGBTQ+ hate group that was set to be held at City Hall on Saturday, Sept. 26. Police Chief Joe Ortiz sent an email (attached below) […]
Residents voice encounters with the SPPD at virtual community forum
Story by Georgia Parsons Staff Writer Photo by Richard Gomez Contributor South Pasadena community members shared their experiences with the SPPD in an effort to improve policing and public safety in the city at a storytelling forum on Thursday, July 16. The forum is the first event organized by the city council’s new Future of Policing […]
‘Digital blackface’ — a subtle perpetuation of stereotypes
The digital era of the 21st century has given people a new platform to enforce America’s structural racism in the form of ‘digital blackface.’
“It’s OK to be white” flyers return to South Pasadena
Story by Zoe Schlaak Staff Writer Photo by Anonymous Contributor South Pasadena residents spotted two white men posting flyers around town that read “It’s OK to be white” (IOTBW), a white supremacist slogan, on Saturday, June 27. The men displayed them on cars parked in front of houses that promoted Black Lives Matter (BLM) with posters […]
School Board eliminates use of drug dogs in SPUSD
Story by Haelee Kim Staff Writer Photo by Oscar Walsh Staff Photographer The South Pasadena School Board officially ended the use of narcotic dogs in the South Pasadena Unified School District (SPUSD) during a virtual meeting on Tuesday, June 9. The board members reacted to a local campaign organized by the South Pasadena Youth for Police […]