NEWARK, N.J. – After a superintendent blacked out a yearbook photo of Andre Jackson kissing his boyfriend, the graduating high school senior refuses to accept her press release apology.
On June 21, Marion Bolden, superintendent of the Newark public schools, viewed a picture of Jackson kissing his boyfriend David Escobales. Deeming the picture illicit and suggestive, she redacted it with black marker in all 250 yearbooks handed out that night.
Bolden claims the decision had nothing to do with Jackson’s sexual orientation. She also adds that she was told Jackson and Escobales were not students at the school.
The school district released a statement June 25 apologizing to Jackson and offering unredacted copies to any senior who requests them. Jackson, however, remains unsatisfied. He says nothing less than a personal apology will suffice.
Bolden’s office said they had scheduled a meeting between Jackson and Bolden, but Jackson said he had no knowledge of it.
