A New York high school student plans to file a
multimillion-dollar lawsuit against one of her teachers alleging her civil
rights were violated. Isabella Moore, who is Black, claimed for months her math
teacher made racist remarks and degraded her clothes during class.
“Like four other girls that were white, and nothing was said
to them, but it was said to me,” Moore told
WABC.
Moore’s lawsuit accuses her Centereach High School teacher,
who has not been publicly identified, of making her feel “little.” The alleged
incidents occurred from September through November 2022. Among the complaints
made, the teacher allegedly criticized Moore’s clothes which included cropped
shirts.
“If you dress like a slut and I call you out for being a
slut, I guess that would make me racists,” Moore’s attorney, Vess Mitev said.
After the teacher was reportedly disciplined for the remark,
she allegedly told Moore, “I guess I was wrong, so you could keep walking
around with your midriff out” in an “intimidating and nasty” tone Fox News reported.
Moore, 18, also accused the teacher of making a derogatory
statement against Black students. The student claimed to have missed class one
day after becoming ill and the following day the teacher made the statement.
“I was sick the day before. As she was going through
attendance she realized I was there and made a comment that she can’t believe
these Black kids are always absent,” Moore said.
Mitev has described the teacher as a “racist predator” and
Moore claims to suffer from anxiety because of the teacher’s bullying.
The complaint cites the Dignity for All Students Act
(DASA) which combats bullying.
The Middle Country School District told WABC the allegations
made is a “’personnel issue’ and ‘confidentiality applies’ due to potential
litigation.” The superintendent also claimed the actions taken was in
“compliance with the guidelines of DASA and applicable law.”
Moore and her attorney want the teacher “immediately
suspended.”
The student has since been removed from the class.
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