- A US mother is suing her daughter's high school for discrimination
- She claims her daughter was forced to share valedictorian honors with a white student who had lower grades
- The family has now come under racist attacks online
The family of a black student in Mississippi, US who was allegedly forced to share valedictorian honors with a white student who had lower grades has come under racist attacks online.
According to Sherry Shepard, her daughter Jasmine Shepard emerged top of her class and was therefore awarded valedictorian honors at her graduation in May 2016.
Jasmine was the first black valedictorian at Cleveland High School's 110-year history. However, Sherry claims the school sought to dilute this honour by having a white student as a co-valedictorian.
Jasmine Shepard emerged top of her class. Photo: Facebook/Justice For Jasmine
She has therefore sued the school, which denies the claims. She also set up a Facebook page known as Justice for Jasmine.
It is on this page that they have come under racist attacks. One user named Jacob Francis wrote: "You n*****s and your self entitled actions make me sick. You shouldn't even be at the same school as white people!"
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Jasmine and her mother Sherry. Photo: Facebook/Justice For Jasmine
Another user, Stephen Bearden, wrote: "Feel free to leave Mississippi and live in Iraq or Syria." David St Claire said: "You're simply [hurt] that another student is white and you feel like you deserve special attention simply based on the color of your skin."
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Jasmine responded stoically to these and more attacks. She wrote: "You can send me these types of messages but those sentiments will not be returned."
Jasmine with her co-valedictorian, Heather Bouse. Photo: The Washington Post/Getty Images
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