Virginia Students Sue Principal Over Racism Accusation

Three white Kellam High School students in Virginia Beach have filed a $10 million defamation lawsuit against Principal Ryan Schubart, alleging he falsely accused them of racist harassment in a school-wide email after they gave a Black friend fried chicken as a birthday gift. The students claim the gesture was a friendly joke requested by the birthday boy and that security footage shows the group laughing and hugging. The principal's email, sent after police found no crime, stated the students would be disciplined to the fullest extent possible and described the incident as racist harassment. The lawsuit asserts that the email and subsequent media coverage led to threats, reputational harm, and the students' removal from school. Their attorney contends that the video evidence contradicts any narrative of staff intervention or harassment. The case underscores tensions between school responses to perceived racism and the consequences of public accusations for students.