More controversial social media posts involving Fresno Unified students found

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Community leaders, students and district leaders are continuing to speak out about more destructive social media posts involving Fresno Unified students.

Over the weekend, multiple social media pages surfaced that included racist images, wording and photos of black Fresno Unified students posted without their consent.

This comes after a photo spread on social media last week showing a student in the Bullard High weight room wearing something on his head that resembles the hoods worn by members of a white supremacist group.

RELATED: Fresno Unified investigating controversial picture taken at Bullard High

On Monday, Fresno Unified Trustee Keshia Thomas alongside students, school and community leaders hosted the press conference addressing the instances of what she is calling "racial intimidation."

Trustee Thomas is calling for a special investigative commission to study the district and its response to racism against students.

Black Student Union members from Bullard also expressed their frustration with their interactions at school.

"We are going to keep doing this until we get some changes," Thomas said. "We are going to keep doing this until we get our commission, until we get our students in a situation where they can discuss freely their true root issues."

Last Friday, Superintendent Nelson pledged to pursue disciplinary action against those involved in the photo from the Bullard High weight room, along with cultural sensitivity training.

FUSD trustee Terry Slatic represents the Bullard High area. He says so far, the district's investigation reveals about 25 people were in the weight room at the time the picture was taken.

Their phones were examined and involvement was narrowed down to three students. Slatic says those students took other pictures in the weight room that were not inappropriate before taking the controversial photo.

"The individual lifts it up in the position that you see in this now-infamous photo and another individual takes that picture. Was it posed? Was it purposeful? Was there something white supremacy in there? I am waiting to see what that looks like," he said.

Slatic says any discipline will be determined after the investigation is complete.

"Where some may have had the intent of sharing a rash joke, the impact has been particularly painful for black students at Bullard," said Eoana Henderson on behalf of the Bullard High Black Student Union. "But also at other Fresno Unified high schools."

Sunday night, Bullard High parents received a phone call with a message from Principal Armen Torigian describing the image as disturbing. He calls on parents to check in on children and offers on-campus help.

"We have resources available at the school, so don't hesitate to call upon us," the message said in part.