NEW ORLEANS — Students at a local charter school say they are scared of violence in their school, and they shared cell phone video to show why.
That's why some parents, and other adults, gathered in protest Monday.
Because of fights caught on camera, a group of parents and community activists say students don't feel safe at Einstein Charter School in New Orleans East. Monday they gathered outside and encouraged students to walk out in protest. A handful did, saying others feared suspension.
Cristiane Rosales Fajardo says her 13-year-old son broke his hand in a fight with another student. She says her son is being bullied and that another child broke his leg in a fight and needed surgery.
"A lot of the other parents are scared (to come to the protest and speak out) because we're dealing with a largely undocumented community and then this school has already, previously, year before, threatened them that if they speak out they'll call immigration on them," said Cristiane Rosales Fajardo, who has three children at the school.
Her older son says he is scared to go to school and doesn't feel he can go to the teachers for help, adding that he has been bullied by other students.
"When they say they going to get you, they're going to get you. They say that if you do something to tick me off, if you look at my girl the wrong way, you bump me in the hallway, it's just straight up violence," said Einstein Tiago Fajardo, who is Cristiane Rosales Fajardo's son.
Einstein school says NOPD was called to another fight in front of the school that happened after hours recently. They say federal law prohibits talking about issues with minors. They say the school is safe, and secure and was just honored by the Orleans Parish School Board for exemplary student growth.
There was armed security in plain view during Monday's protest.
School administrators say they have invited Rosales-Farjardo to meet with them multiple times about her child, and the door remains open.
The protesters say nothing has changed.
"We basically demanding like more structure inside the schools, that's like really, it's lacking inside the schools," said Kayonna Armstrong, New Orleans Parent Union Organizer with Step Up Louisiana.
NOLA Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Henderson Lewis, Jr. invited some of the parents to a private meeting Monday afternoon at 3:30. They talked until 5pm and he sent this statement after the meeting.
The following is a statement from NOLA Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Henderson Lewis, Jr. regarding the recent fights that took place connected with students attending Einstein Charter High School:
“NOLA Public Schools (NOLA-PS) is committed to eliminating violence citywide - through our schools and community partnerships- to help children across our city realize their full potential and lead rich and productive lives. NOLA-PS is aware of the recent fighting incidents involving students at Einstein Charter School. I met with concerned parents this afternoon and my team is engaged with the school and collecting information to assess any accountability or compliance concerns as they are addressed. These recent events are extremely unfortunate and in response to my conversation with families today, I will be taking two immediate action steps, first requesting an immediate meeting with the CEO to follow-up on what was shared and second, I will be assigning staff to Einstein to regularly assess and monitor campus safety.”
Dr. Henderson Lewis, Jr.
Superintendent of Schools