As the search for accountability continues, the family of Landon Payton – the 14-year-old who tragically passed away following a medical emergency at Marshall Middle School – is pressing HISD for transparency. Nearly a month after the incident that shocked the community, the Paytons, supported by civil rights organization FIEL and state Rep. Christina Morales, are demanding answers. According to the Houston Chronicle, the family is seeking clarity on the events leading to Landon's death on August 14, urging the district to reveal the investigation's findings.
FIEL Executive Director Cesar Espinosa has been vocal about the need for change, echoing the frustrations of the Paytons and the community. "We are here today to start asking those questions," Espinosa said, addressing the urgency for HISD to provide solutions so that no family has to go through what this family has gone through, in a statement conveyed by the Houston Chronicle. Rep. Morales expressed similar concerns, having reached out to both HISD and the Texas Education Agency, only to receive no clear answers.
During a recent board meeting, the demand for action was palpable; community members dressed in red, Payton's favorite color, made their voices heard. Emotions ran high as board members took a recess in the face of persistent chanting and demands for meaningful engagement with the public's concerns. The Paytons and their supporters are not just fighting for justice for Landon but pushing for systemic changes to prevent future tragedies. "This board grieves for that family," Board president Audrey Momanaee eventually said, in an attempt to address the outcry, but the calls for action continued unabated, as mentioned by Houston Chronicle.
Yet, the concerns stretch beyond Landon's case, touching on the broader issues within HISD. Lisa Weiss, a parent, insisted in comments made during public commentary at the meeting that immediate action be taken to service non-working AEDs and to ensure CPR-trained personnel are present at each campus. Parents, community members, and protestors alike are casting a weary eye toward HISD's handling of student safety, even more so as the district is wrestling with criticism over a proposed $4.4 billion school bond meant to revitalize campuses. As reported by KHOU 11 News, protestors question whether student safety is truly a priority, especially in schools predominantly attended by Black and brown students.
Their doubt is fueled by revelations that the gym's AED wasn't working when Landon experienced his emergency, and a subsequent admission by the district that more than 175 AEDs are non-functional across the HISD. In the wake of these disclosures, the Payton family, represented by attorney Chris Tritico, is considering legal action, contingent upon whether a working AED could've altered the tragic outcome.
