Justice High School rededicated at ceremony honoring Marshall, Johns, and Mendez
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| Rep. Gerry Connolly speaks at the rededication ceremony at Justice High School. |
“All who walk through these halls
will walk with pride,” said Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax at a rededication ceremony for Justice High School Sept. 7.
The ceremony recognized the official renaming of the school formerly known as JEB Stuart High School. 7
will walk with pride,” said Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax at a rededication ceremony for Justice High School Sept. 7.
The ceremony recognized the official renaming of the school formerly known as JEB Stuart High School. 7
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| The ribbon is cut. |
When the school board approved the name Justice in October, 2017, their aim was to honor the three individuals – Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, civil rights activist Barbara Rose Johns, and World War II hero and educator Louis G. Mendez Jr. – who got the most votes from the community as an alternative to Stuart.
Those honorees were recognized at the rededication, which featured presentations by students, remarks by
public officials and Fairfax County school leaders, and songs by the Justice
choir. Several descendants of Mendez and Johns were there, too.
School board member Sandy Evans,
who led the school board’s efforts to change the name, told the audience that
students approached her a couple of years ago saying they wanted the name of their
school to represent diversity and equity, not a Confederate general.
who led the school board’s efforts to change the name, told the audience that
students approached her a couple of years ago saying they wanted the name of their
school to represent diversity and equity, not a Confederate general.
“This is one of the most diverse
and inclusive schools in the county,” Evans said, noting the school’s motto is “we
are one.” The new name will “glow with our hopes and dreams for the future.”
and inclusive schools in the county,” Evans said, noting the school’s motto is “we
are one.” The new name will “glow with our hopes and dreams for the future.”
“This was a painful decision for a
lot of people in our community,” Rep. Gerry Connolly acknowledged. “It was
their high school. They didn’t associate it with anything negative.”
lot of people in our community,” Rep. Gerry Connolly acknowledged. “It was
their high school. They didn’t associate it with anything negative.”
But that’s not the case if you
were a person of color in the 1950s, Connolly said. At that time, black
students who lived here were bused to a high school in Manassas.
were a person of color in the 1950s, Connolly said. At that time, black
students who lived here were bused to a high school in Manassas.
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| The Justice chorus. |
And even after the Supreme Court ruled in Brown v. Board of Education in 1954 that public schools had to be integrated, local leaders “named buildings for
Confederate heroes as a stick in the eye, to remind you who was in charge,” he said. “The name of this school was part
of an ignoble era in our history. That’s the wrong we are righting
today.”
Confederate heroes as a stick in the eye, to remind you who was in charge,” he said. “The name of this school was part
of an ignoble era in our history. That’s the wrong we are righting
today.”
When our president talks
about a white supremacist rally and says there were good people on both sides, “renaming
this high school is more important than ever,” Connolly said. “That kind of
bigotry and hatred is not welcome here.”
about a white supremacist rally and says there were good people on both sides, “renaming
this high school is more important than ever,” Connolly said. “That kind of
bigotry and hatred is not welcome here.”
In honor of the rededication
ceremony, Connolly presented an American flag that flew over the U.S. Capitol to
Justice Principal Maria Eck.
ceremony, Connolly presented an American flag that flew over the U.S. Capitol to
Justice Principal Maria Eck.
“We believe in the worth and dignity
of every single person,” said Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax. The rededication
of Justice High School reaffirms the words in the Pledge of Allegiance about “liberty
and justice for all.”
of every single person,” said Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax. The rededication
of Justice High School reaffirms the words in the Pledge of Allegiance about “liberty
and justice for all.”
A descendant of slaves, Fairfax is the second-highest elected official in the state, an accomplishment that wouldn’t have been possible without the struggle for civil rights.
Johns was a key player in that
struggle. Justice students Elijah Jeffries, Irene Hossain, and Noah
Jeffries told the audience how she was unhappy about having to attend an
inferior school because of her race – and decided to do something about it. Johns led a student strike and a march to
the office of the school superintendent.
struggle. Justice students Elijah Jeffries, Irene Hossain, and Noah
Jeffries told the audience how she was unhappy about having to attend an
inferior school because of her race – and decided to do something about it. Johns led a student strike and a march to
the office of the school superintendent.
That led to the NAACP filing a lawsuit charging the Prince Edward County, Va., school system with racial discrimination, which was combined with similar cases
into the Supreme Court’s landmark Brown decision. Because of John’s “courage as a
teenager to fight for justice and equality,” the students said, “she is a true American
hero.”
into the Supreme Court’s landmark Brown decision. Because of John’s “courage as a
teenager to fight for justice and equality,” the students said, “she is a true American
hero.”
Marshall argued Brown v. Board of
Education before the Supreme Court, served on the U.S. Court of Appeals in D.C., then in
1967, became the first African American justice on the Supreme Court, said
students Julie Clark, Alicia Gendell, and Kevin Ma.
Education before the Supreme Court, served on the U.S. Court of Appeals in D.C., then in
1967, became the first African American justice on the Supreme Court, said
students Julie Clark, Alicia Gendell, and Kevin Ma.
The students called Marshall a “civil
rights hero who opened the doors for millions” and transformed our nation,
demanding we truly live up to our ideals of equality and justice.” Marshall was also the first African
American resident of Lake Barcroft; his wife still lives there.
rights hero who opened the doors for millions” and transformed our nation,
demanding we truly live up to our ideals of equality and justice.” Marshall was also the first African
American resident of Lake Barcroft; his wife still lives there.
Michael Jimenez Sandoval, Jasmin
Martinez, and Jennifer Giron spoke told how their ancestor, Col. Mendez, helped save the world from Nazi tyranny in World War II. The
paratrooper regiment he commanded was one of the first forces to land on
Normandy Beach. He liberated several towns in France, fought in the Battle of
the Bulge, and earned a Distinguished Service Cross.
Martinez, and Jennifer Giron spoke told how their ancestor, Col. Mendez, helped save the world from Nazi tyranny in World War II. The
paratrooper regiment he commanded was one of the first forces to land on
Normandy Beach. He liberated several towns in France, fought in the Battle of
the Bulge, and earned a Distinguished Service Cross.
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| Justice High School has all new signs and logos. |
He was an intellectual who
appreciated the value of education, they said. He later served as a military attaché
to Spain and directed the Right to Read program in the Virginia Department of Education.
appreciated the value of education, they said. He later served as a military attaché
to Spain and directed the Right to Read program in the Virginia Department of Education.
His life “illustrates the impact
all of us can have if we are willing to give to a cause larger than ourselves,”
they said. Mendez also lived in Lake Barcroft.
all of us can have if we are willing to give to a cause larger than ourselves,”
they said. Mendez also lived in Lake Barcroft.
“Our diversity is our strength,”
said Justice High School’s new principal, Maria Eck, who noted that among
Justice’s 2,200 students are youths who come from more than 20 countries.
said Justice High School’s new principal, Maria Eck, who noted that among
Justice’s 2,200 students are youths who come from more than 20 countries.
“All of you are welcome,
regardless of where you’re from or how you arrived,” Eck said.
regardless of where you’re from or how you arrived,” Eck said.
And while Justice offers a
world-class curriculum with outstanding programs like the International Baccalaureate
diploma, she said, “our students are more than a test score.” She urged everyone in the Justice
community to “share the good things going on here every day.”
world-class curriculum with outstanding programs like the International Baccalaureate
diploma, she said, “our students are more than a test score.” She urged everyone in the Justice
community to “share the good things going on here every day.”
The Wolves have already proven themselves on the athletic field. The
football team won its first two games, and the girls field hockey team won the
first trophy for Justice High School.
football team won its first two games, and the girls field hockey team won the
first trophy for Justice High School.
*Shrug*
Congratulations to all "Justice HS" students of 2018, administrators and to the freedom from the segregation ages in our national history. Activists, volunteers, students, School Board Members, donors, Mason District Community Leaders and all leading Elected Officials who helped overlook the process from start to finish, on all sides of this rededication, should be commended. When our democracy is fully respected in the community, everybody wins. We have just added a new page this year to the pages of our history books. Go, Justice, Go!
The re-dedication ceremony on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhO6mfDmoYE&feature=youtu.be
Thanks for the link!
Go Wolves!