A Charlotte, N.C., high school is apologizing for an insensitive sign students held up at a Friday football game.
Student cheerleaders from Butler High School held up a large sign that said ‘PRIVILEGE’ during a game against Charlotte Catholic High School, implying that students from Charlotte Catholic were privileged.
“The thing that was so disturbing was it was children,” parent Melissa Swanson told the local CBS affiliate. “Whether they are high school, elementary school or middle school - they’re children. The administration, the coaches, the athletic director - they had to know it.”
Swanson said the sign was mean spirited.
“Here we are at a rich white high school and they are all lucky. We have it hard. They don’t,” she said. “And that’s not the case by no means. I am a single mom and I raise my son on my own and we pay for that school and work hard to be there.”
The Charlotte Mecklenburg School District released the following statement, apologizing for the sign:
“CMS is aware of an insensitive banner displayed by the Butler HS cheerleading squad prior to the school’s football game versus Charlotte Catholic last Friday. Squad members and adults responsible for oversight will face consequences as a result of that banner display. School and district officials will offer no specific information about this disciplinary matter. Principal Golden and Learning Community Superintendent Tangela Williams have spoken with leaders from Charlotte Catholic to offer verbal apologies. Butler High School cheerleaders have sent an apology letter to counterparts at Charlotte Catholic. Soon there will be a meeting between the schools’ cheerleading squads to facilitate goodwill and understanding,” Vicki Grooms, CMS Media Relations Specialist, wrote.
