This archive report was first published on 22 October 2019.
Fired for Repeating Racist Slur, School Guard Rehired ¶
October 22, 2019
Marlon Anderson, a Wisconsin school security assistant, will be rehired after being fired for repeating a racist slur while trying to explain its offensiveness to a student, union officials said.
Anderson was fired on October 9 after he repeated the slur during an exchange with a student at West High School in Madison. The student, also black, had directed the slur at Anderson, who tried to explain why it was offensive.
Following days of public outcry and protests by students and teachers, officials at the school district called the union representing Anderson, Madison Teachers Inc., to say his firing would be rescinded and that he would be placed on paid leave.
Students had staged a walkout over Anderson's firing, sparking outrage nationwide. Cher, the artist, offered to pay for Anderson's legal expenses, should he choose to sue the school district. Arne Duncan, a former United States education secretary, said on Twitter that the school district needed to
