News Update

Fresno school district removes name of former president Polk from school

The school board of Central Unified School District in Fresno voted 4-2 Tuesday to rename former James K. Polk Elementary School, now called Central Elementary School.

The decision came after a tense debate, according to the Fresno Bee.

One year ago, student Malachi Suarez, 11, led a movement to rename Polk Elementary because the former president owned slaves and authorized the Mexican-American War. Malachi gathered 1,500 signatures in favor and made a poster that said “James K. Polk was racist,” which was torn down by a parent, according to the Bee.