Dear Marlborough Public School Families,
I am writing to you today because of a disturbing nationwide trend that has made its way to Massachusetts.
While Marlborough has not received any reports of these messages yet, they have been reported in several states, including Alabama, California, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee.
In these states, students of color have received texts that have some variation of a message that they have been “selected to pick cotton at the nearest plantation.”
This is an abhorrent trend that does not reflect our values as a school community or a people. Racism in any form has no place in our schools, our community, or our society, and we will stand firm in our efforts to eradicate it.
Massachusetts State Police have been notified of the instances that occurred in Massachusetts, and police in other communities are working with the Commonwealth Fusion Center to investigate the matter and share resources.
We ask that parents speak to their children about this trend and come forward to report if they have received a similar text message.
Sincerely,
Mary Murphy
Superintendent