Two Black Massachusetts sisters who reportedly faced repeated racial harassment and discriminatory discipline have settled their civil rights complaint, their attorneys at Lawyers for Civil Rights announced.
The resolution requires Millbury Public Schools to overhaul its policies to address gaps that have allowed identity-based harassment to persist and to compensate the family for the harms they suffered.
In September 2024, Melody and Kamora Dabney, along with their mother, Trusha Vilvar, filed a civil rights complaint against MPS after the sisters experienced months of racial bullying, threats, and disparate discipline at school.
LCR states that the sisters, two of only a few Black students at Millbury Memorial, were targets of relentless bullying by their peers, including the repeated use of racial epithets such as “monkey” and the N-word. Melody was particularly targeted, referred to as: “Black as fuck,” “ugly,” and “too dark.” Throughout their time at MPS, white students ridiculed Melody’s hair texture, facial features, and skin color.
According to the complaint, the sisters reported the incidents, and their mother consistently communicated concerns to school officials. Yet, MPS failed to take meaningful action to root out racism or hold racist perpetrators accountable. The incessant harassment ultimately caused the family to leave the school district altogether.
The settlement requires MPS to revise its Civil Rights Grievance Procedures to provide greater protections to students facing racial bullying.
“This was never just about my daughters. It was about standing up for every child in the district who has experienced racism, bullying, or discrimination and felt unheard, and making sure their voices matter too,” said Mrs. Vilvar, the mother of Melody and Kamora Dabney. “Our family’s hope is that this resolution leads to meaningful change and helps create a school environment where every child feels safe, respected, and heard,” she added.
“This case was always about ensuring that Melody and Kamora were heard, protected, and treated with the dignity every student deserves,” said Mirian Albert, Senior Attorney at LCR. “We are pleased that the matter has been resolved and hope this settlement helps ensure a safer and more supportive educational environment for all students in Millbury.”
