The Long Beach Unified School District is investigating a teacher accused of sharing an image depicting a Black child wearing an ankle monitor as if it were a package for a children’s toy.

According to the Long Beach Post, the image was shared in a group chat involving members of the teachers’ union bargaining team in May. The message accompanying the image read, “We need this for our runners!”

Teachers who spoke to the Post said “runners” is a derogatory term for special education students who tend to wander off.

State Sen. Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) called the post "racist" and "horrendous" in a statement calling for the district to investigate the matter.

The Teachers Association of Long Beach initiated its own investigation. However, according to the Post, the district initially

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