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Gloria Alfonzo says she endured racial taunts and slurs because she supported John McCain (web|news|bio) 's presidential campaign.
Her problems, she said, began with an assignment to write about the merits of Barack Obama (web|news|bio) . When she announced she differed with Obama, Alfonzo says her African-American classmates subjected her to an onslaught of racial hatred.
"I was frightened," she recalled. "It was horrible; it was extremely horrible. I was a little scared."
Alfonzo said all of her classmates -- except for herself and one other -- were black, as was the instructor, Ayanna Watson. She says the teacher demanded to know whether she is a Republican.
Alfonzo maintains her answer drove her fellow students into a racially-charged rage.
"They got up from their chairs they started pointing at me and, um, saying, 'You are a daughter of a,' you know, '[expletive deleted]' and '[expletive deleted] white girl,'" she said.
Chris Monroe was in the same class.
"I have never seen so much hate for one person," he recalled.
Monroe agrees with Alfonzo that the teacher never came to her defense. He found the vicious taunts deeply troubling.
He recalled some of the things he remembers them saying: "[Expletive deleted} white whore,' all that. 'Traitor [expletive deleted], all kinds of stuff."
"I don't think the teacher was even paying much attention," Monroe said. "She wasn't acknowledging it."
ABC 7/NewsChannel 8 reporter Stephen Tschida stopped by the teacher's home. There was no answer at the door, but her politics were proudly displayed: a large Obama sign on her front door.
After the incident, Alfonzo went to her college adviser, who agreed she should withdraw.
"I wanted to withdraw because it wasn't the educational environment that I wanted to be in," she said.
Alfonzo wants her tuition back and the school to fight racial hatred. Meanwhile, she put her dream of college on hold since Prince George's Community College is the only school she could afford.
A Prince George's Community College representative says an investigation into the incident is underway. She said if the teacher fostered or condoned the racist attacks, it is in clear violation of school policy.
While I understand that the suffering this girl had went through, in no way makes up for the years of cruelty and abuse that have been suffered upon by African-Americans - nonetheless what happened to this girl is just as awful. Not only from a racial standpoint, but from a political one as well. The actions of the students and teacher were rephrensible and both the teacher and the community college
itself need to be looked into for the possible racial hatred, failing to correct the class, using political bias as an excuse, and as well for the school not failing to have either the teacher fired or to have offered some sort of assistance to this young woman. Instead of just suggesting that "If she doesn't like the atmosphere here, then leave".
I feel so sorry for this girl who had to, like myself, suffer a terrible injustice over political/racial matters when she never instigated any type of fight - other than disagreeing with Obama's policies. I believe she has a case against
this teacher and the school and hopefully, swift action will correct the situation. Its disgusting what this country is already coming to and only days after the election.
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