MONTPELIER, Vt. — A Vermont high school will fly a Black Lives Matter flag outside the school for the month of February, Black History Month.
Montpelier Public Schools announced Wednesday that Montpelier High School would fly the flag after a year of school officials working with the student-led Racial Justice Alliance. The student group said in a statement that "Vermont has a long history of being at the forefront of civil rights movements," and the decision to fly the flag builds on that legacy.
Superintendent Brian Ricca said in taking this step, "the board and administration recognize student leadership and their desire for support."
"This is integral to other meaningful and purposeful work around equity this is happening in Montpelier Public Schools. This is not a singular event," he said according to NBC-affiliate WPTZ.
The school board unanimously voted on Jan. 17 to raise the Black Lives Matter flag in front of Montpelier High School in February.
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Superintendent Brian Ricca says he acknowledges some people will disagree with the decision, but says it’s important for the community to engage this conversation thoughtfully. Principal Mike McRaith also agrees with the board's decision.
"This is a response to our collective recognition that we need to be a more inclusive community," he said. "In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., 'The time is always right to do what is right.'"