NJ School District To Remove Woodrow Wilson’s Name From High School

Officials with one New Jersey school district plan to rename a school named after former President Woodrow Wilson because of what critics have called his legacy of racism.

The Camden school district will rename the high school that had been Wilson’s namesake for 90 years after voting on the measure nearly 18 months ago.

A 100-member committee — composed of parents, activists, and school officials — was formed last year to pick a new name for the high school. Some famous names that were considered included the late civil rights activist and US Rep. John Lewis and former President Barack Obama. The committee also considered naming the high school after a former superintendent who recently passed away.

The campaign to change the name began in 2019 with a petition on Change.org. The movement picked up steam in the summer of 2020 after George Floyd was murdered by Minneapolis police and was delayed again as officials turned their focus to its response to the COVID-19 virus.

In a statement, school officials said, “We are proud that our schools represent places of diversity and inclusion, and we plan to increase our efforts to reshape the identity of this venerable and cherished school.”