A New York assistant principal sparked outrage and has been placed on leave after an anti-police tirade was posted on social media.
“F— the police,” 9th grade AP teacher Steven Lysenko can be heard shouting in a Facebook Live video during a protest over the death of Daniel Prude in western New York. “F— Rochester Police Department.”
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“Our peacekeepers ended up shooting pepper spray at us for singing and chanting and telling them what a shitty-assed job they were doing,” Lysenko said. “They can f— right off, America!”
This is Steven Lysenko, assistant principal at Spencerport High School in Rochester. He was at the riot last night and even reportedly led students in this march. He says it was “peaceful.” At least two cops were injured last night. pic.twitter.com/WyRnso93Az
— Brittany (@Brittany3l) September 5, 2020
The Spencerport Central School District issued a statement on Twitter Friday expressing support for “racial equality and systemic change” but criticized the language Lysenko used and said the situation will be handled internally.
1/3. Response to a social media video of district employee at the Rochester protest
As we have stated consistently and clearly, Spencerport Central School District stands in solidarity in support of racial equality and systemic change.
— Spencerport Schools (@SpencerportCSD) September 5, 2020
On Monday, the school district posted on its website that Lysenko has been placed on administrative leave while an investigation is conducted.
“Mr. Steven Lysenko is a tenured administrator with due process rights,” the post read. “He has been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation.”
The statement continued, “We appreciate the outpouring of emails, posts, and comments regarding this matter, and we hope you understand that given this is a pending investigation, we are unable to respond. Thank you for your patience.”
The Twitter bio on an account believed to be Lysenko’s states that he is an “advocate for social justice,” and a tweet from that account in June states, “To any students-past or present-who follow me here: know that when you post “#WhiteLivesMatter, you are condoning White Supremacy. In that I will not abide!”
