Connecticut School Accused of Racism After It Bans Nigerian-American Girl From Class Amid Ebola Fears
The Christian Association of Nigerian-Americans has accused the Milford School District in Connecticut of racism for banning a 7-year-old Nigerian-American girl from attending class on suspicion of Ebola, since she had traveled to Nigeria earlier this month. The school, which was sued by the father of the girl, argued that it acted in the best interest of its students and staff.
"Christian Association of Nigerian-Americans will not take this escalation of ignorance and racism regarding Ebola and Nigerian-Americans lying low," said Laolu Akande, executive director of CANAN, in a press release on Wednesday.
"We are appalled that a school headed by otherwise responsible educators can succumb to unsubstantiated medical fears and chose to respond with discrimination and denial of a young girl's right to education."
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The case concerns Ikeoluwa Opayemi, a 7-year-old Nigerian-American girl who travelled with her father, Steve Opayemi, to Lagos earlier in October. Upon returning, the parents of the girl said that they would permit a medical screening to confirm the wellness of their daughter, who has not reported any Ebola symptoms, but the school refused.
After the father filed a lawsuit against the school, Milford's superintendent Elizabeth Feser issued a statement denying allegations that it had acted improperly.
"In addressing this situation, at all times, my staff and I proceeded in good faith to respond to this public health issue. We acted in the best interest of all of our students and staff," Feser's statement read, according to Fox CT News.
CANAN rejected this explanation, however, and said that "if that excuse was not a rash, erratic and immoral one, it would have been laughable."
The group pointed out that Nigeria has been declared Ebola-free by the World Health Organization, and has not reported an infection in over 50 days. WHO even hailed Nigeria as a "spectacular success story" when it comes to tackling Ebola.
The outbreak, which began in March in West Africa, has killed close to 5,000 people, mostly in the countries of Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea.
There have been a handful of cases reported in the United States as well, prompting a number of states to implement strict quarantine measures, while major airports around the country have been screening West African passengers for Ebola.
"We're going to need to make sure that our doctors and our health care professionals here in the United States are properly trained and informed and that they are coordinated if and when an Ebola case crops up here in the United States," President Barack Obama said in a White House speech earlier this week, providing an update on Americans' fight against the virus.
"But what's also critically important is making sure that all the talent, skill, compassion, professionalism, dedication and experience of our folks here can be deployed to help those countries deal with this outbreak at the source."
Akande argued that there have been a number of such incidents in the U.S. over Ebola which reveal racism, and shared the story of a Senegalese father in New York who said his sons are being bullied and stigmatized as hailing from an Ebola country — even though Senegal has also been declared Ebola-free.
In another case earlier in October, two Nigerian students were denied admission in a Texas school because of unproven Ebola fears.
"Like Obama said earlier today in the White House, Americans are way better than these shenanigans. Milford district educators have taken an untoward decision, they are exhibiting uncouth attitudes and have opted for a shallow policy," Akande continued.
"We commend the action of Mr. Opayemi seeking a judicial intervention and we support him. It is our hope that this matter would be urgently reviewed and the Nigerian-American girl promptly returned to school with appropriate apologies."
