Change.org - Rename this school

Two student newspaper reporters uncovered that their Kansas high school, Seaman High, was named after a KKK leader. Fred Seaman was influential in building the KKK in Kansas and held a leadership position known as an “exalted cyclops.” The school board has told the students that if there’s public support, they’ll consider changing the name. Thousands have signed their petition. Add your name to send a message to the school board. Rename USD 345 4,419 have signed Rename Seaman Schools’s petition. Let’s get to 5,000!

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On October 16, 2020, two student journalists published a story revealing that Fred Seaman, the founder of the Seaman School district, was the leader of the Topeka Ku Klux Klan in the mid 1920’s. The school district was unanimously voted to be named after him by the staff and student body when the high school first opened. For decades, a rumor of his involvement in the KKK remained within the district, but it was not proven fact by any particular means and therefore continued to make students of color feel unwelcome throughout the district.  USD 345 named the district after Fred Seaman to honor the work he did starting the district, but that work is overshadowed by his leadership in the Klan. Our movement is working to change the name of the unified school district 345 to an all-inclusive, welcoming name that will represent the district in high honor and welcome students of all races and backgrounds. The USD 345 school board declared that they would only consider renaming the district if a grassroots movement from the community called for action. This petition will show the district board that we do not want to be affiliated with the KKK in any way. Please, join our movement and take a stand for justice by signing and sharing this petition.

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