Minnesota police investigate video of racist behavior that encouraged a black student to take his own life
Nya Sigin, a black student at Prior Lake High School, told CNN she was “shocked” by the video she believes was directed at her.
“I really can’t understand what I’m hearing, it’s really just a wave of different emotions. I’m angry, I’m disgusted, I’m sad and I’m confused,” the 14-year-old added. she’s known the girl in the video since elementary school – “basically, my whole life.”
In the 57-second clip, a girl says in front of the camera: “You can f** rot king in hell … no one likes N *** ers … f ** king kill yourself now now.” Another girl is heard in the background of the video – who, like a teenager on camera, alternates between laughter and laughter throughout.
Nya said she believes the video aimed at her was originally posted on social media in September but a student at her high school shared the video with her last Monday.
That night, Nya’s older sister Elizabeth – a senior at Prior Lake High School – posted a video with her sister’s permission on her own Snapchat story to expose the hate her sister was feeling. take. Elizabeth said: “I get a lot of messages from people asking me to send them videos.
Elizabeth said many students from Prior Lake High School and other schools used Prior Lake High School’s anonymous tip stream to complain about the existence of the video.
“It was late Monday evening when I was informed of a horrific, hateful, racist video posted on the social media platform,” Savage Police Chief Rodney Seurer said at a news conference. on Thursday. “This is not tolerated here.”
Nya said the girls in the video also target her struggles with mental health.
“They’re always hostile to me… they’ll always bring up mental health issues, like my personal problems,” Nya said.
Nya’s father, Taban Sigin, said his daughter has faced mental health issues in the past and he worries about her saying she has struggled with anxiety and depression . The young woman shared that she was hospitalized in May after trying to take her own life.
“I went back to school and I told a few of my close friends about it,” the teen said softly, adding that the information was given to the girls seen and heard in the video. racists and some of their friends. .
Nya said she wants to see action and justice from the school and government officials.
Minneapolis NAACP secretary Brooke Roper said in a statement to CNN: “Minnesota has repeatedly made national headlines because of racial ignorance during the two most critical years the world has ever experienced.”
“The Minneapolis NAACP is dedicated to protecting and seeking justice for Nya and all Black students. We demand that the Prior Lake-Savage Area School District be transparent throughout this investigation and stand by its commitment to the truth. demonstrate racial equity in its activities to ensure that the 4.3% of Black students enrolled in their school district are heard, protected, acknowledged, and equipped with equitable resources and REAL change,” said Roper.
Pre-Lake High School students were removed from their classrooms around 12:45 p.m. Thursday after school officials heard of a planned protest outside the school in response to racist video.
“I just want everyone to know that I’m so grateful for all the support,” Nya said. “It just makes me feel so loved and supported knowing that there are other people out there supporting me.”
When asked what words she has for other students or children who experience racism and bullying, Nya said, “I would say to other girls, other students or just people who are experiencing through things like this, that it gets better.”
“You don’t have to keep going through this. It’s all temporary, there are changes that need to be made,” she said. “My best advice is just to be strong through it all and remember that you have a lot of support systems and a lot of people who love you.”
For help, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). There is also a crisis text line. For crisis assistance in Spanish, call 1-888-628-9454.
.
