Mother says students of color were told to sit at a “segregated” table and they couldn’t sit or play with white kids

According to Kathryn Kelley, her son who is of Asian descent and attends Lyles-Crouch Traditional Academy in Alexandria, VA, was told by a group of white students that he could not sit with them. 

"[They were] saying that mixed race kids had to sit at a table that was away from the white kids, and then African American and Black kids had to sit even further," Kelley told News4 Washington. "They said that they were segregated and that they couldn't play with the white kids."

The mother says the students also teased the students of color based on class and race.

"It was of course very difficult, it was confusing. He was trying to understand what was going on while also trying to stand up for his friends and trying to interrupt the situation, but not really knowing what to do," Kelley said.

News4 Washington obtained a letter that was sent from the school to the parents that acknowledged students played an “inappropriate game” that made some students feel uncomfortable and that it was a "role play of a social studies lesson."

"When kids are learning these things, like about segregation, learning about the history of white supremacy in the U.S. -- they have to learn that, they need to learn that, but it's not a game, and they need to learn the seriousness of these things," Kelley said.

It is unclear if any students involved will face discipline.