Douglas County parents and students are organizing a protest before the May 23 school board meeting where changes to the district’s equity policy are expected.

Melissa Sutherland and her high school son planned the protest in solidarity with Jeramiah Ganzy, who recently reported he is a victim of racist harassment, which includes being sent racial slurs online.

The Castle Rock Middle School student publicly addressed the board earlier this month.  

The protest will be held at the Douglas County School District building on Wilcox Street in Castle Rock at 4 p.m. on May 23, an hour before the school board meeting.

Sutherland said in a statement that the timing of the protest is intentional because she hopes the board will take students’ reports of discrimination into consideration when they vote on proposed changes to the equity policy. 

“I want to help make sure that what happened to Jeramiah never happens again to any student in this school district,” Sutherland said. “He needs to know that there is a whole community out here who supports him and will fight to force (Douglas County School District) to address this problem.”

The school board is divided over changes to the equity policy, with board members Becky Myers, President Mike Peterson, Christy Williams, and Kaylee Winegar in favor of revisions.

Minority members, Elizabeth Hanson, Susan Meek, and David Ray oppose the proposed updates.