The Bettendorf School District is currently selling “Black Voices Matter” shirts. In addition, a middle school classroom has various “pride” flags on the wall around a posted that proclaims “Black Lives Matter” as well as other politically charged taglines.
Black Voices Matter is an official club at the school. The Iowa Standard looked at the district’s website but didn’t notice any “White Voices Matter” group listed. We have emailed the district asking if the school district has ever sold “White Voices Matter” apparel.
“Join the Black Voices Matter organization to upbringing the voices of those that are suppressed, silenced and feel like their voices aren’t taken into consideration,” the group’s page on the district website states. “You will become educated and aware of the conflicts African Americans/black students feel day to day under the roof of BHS.”
The Black Voices Matter apparel was featured in the most recent edition of the Bettendorf District Update newsletter.
According to Celeste Miller, the district’s director of communications, the shirts being sold are being sold by the student organization.
“The district rarely sells apparel,” she said. “We have held a sale for ‘BETTerTogether’ shirts. That is all the district has sold.”
Again, however, the items for sale were promoted in the district newsletter on the district website.
Here is the wall from the middle school classroom with the various politically charged identifiers plastered on the wall:
