A recent lawsuit filed Tuesday, June 27 alleges that a black Mississippi high school student was forced to be a co-valedictorian with a white student who had a lower grade point average.

Cleveland High School graduate Jasmine Shepard was awarded the title of “co-valedictorian,” along with a white peer in May 2016. “Prior to 2016, all of Cleveland High School’s valedictorians were white,” the suit states. “As a result of the school official’s unprecedented action of making an African-American student share the valedictorian award with a white student, the defendants discriminated against.”

This was the first time a co-valedictorian was chosen in the school district in 110 years. According to The Washington Post, an attorney for the Cleveland School District said the lawsuit was "frivolous" and claims both students had identical GPAs.

“A child, when they earn honors, they are entitled to receive them,” Jasmine's mother, Sherry Shepard, said. “There is no inclusion in the Cleveland school district. When the district wants something, they just take it.” For a year now, Shepard has maintained the Justice for Jasmine Facebook page to bring the issue to light. In a previous interview, Shepard also stated that her daughter was made to speak after the white peer and walk behind her before she objected.

The lawsuit mentions that the co-valedictorian title came “on the heels of a federal judge’s ruling that the Cleveland School District had failed to desegregate its schools approximately 50 years.” The schools were ordered to integrate last year.

Ultimately, Shepard wants her daughter to be sole valedictorian and the suit asks for an undisclosed amount for damages.

Justice for jasmine

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