The incident happened in January at Tippecanoe Valley Middle School, located in Akron, Indiana, where a teacher gathered the Hispanic sixth-graders for “Three Kings Day,” also known as Epiphany.
The annual holiday, which falls on January 6, is a Catholic tradition that recognizes the Magi and their visit to the infant Jesus. It is also a popular event in Hispanic culture known as “Dia de Los Reyes Magos."”
Lauren Greuel, associate counsel at Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty, says the law firm has filed a Title IV complaint with the U.S. Department of Education after learning about the incident. A similar complaint was filed with the U.S. Department of Justice.
Even though the party might have had “benevolent intentions,” Greuel says, it is also a “really good example” of what racial segregation looks like. WILL calls that a violation of the U.S. Civil Rights Act.
"Title VI prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance," the attorney tells AFN.
According to a related Daily Caller story, WILL alleges the school recognized the teacher's party in a Facebook post that boasted about "embracing cultural traditions." When parents complained online about the party excluding other students, the teacher defended "marginalized societies" that need special attention to feel "inclusive."
Tippecanoe Valley Middle School is one of four schools in the Tippecanoe Valley School Corporation. Within the four schools, Hispanics make up about 18% of the student population that is overwhelmingly white, according to U.S. News.
AFN is seeking comment from Tippecanoe Valley Middle School.
