Mike Valdes vs. Erin Knight in school board debate
News April 21, 2022
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The District 5 seat on the Forsyth County Board of education opened up when Kristen Morrissey chose not to run for reelection. Mike Valdes, a construction manager, and Erin Knight, an independent reading specialist, qualified last month to run for the position. They participated in the Republican Party debate Wednesday evening in the County Administration Building.
Valdes, the father of three Forsyth School System students, has often volunteered to serve on school advisory boards and school councils. In the last year, he has done extensive research on the school system and learned “Primarily that the good outweighs the bad by a huge margin.”
He said he has a business acumen that is very relevant to what the School Board does. He has managed multi million dollar construction projects and employed large teams of multi-disciplined professionals. “So I am accustomed to diversity,” he said.
The three major issues facing the school system in the future, he said, are the county’s population growth, the loss of experienced teachers and the implementation of systems that are steeped in political problems. “That is just a fact. It is not open to debate,” he said.
Knight said she is a 25-year educator who has worked as an independent reading specialist the last 10 years.
“The thing I am most proud of is raising my three children and becoming involved in their education in Forsyth County,” she said. She has been involved in many school councils and steering committees.
If she is elected, she said she can be counted on to fact check and be a responsible communicator. “I will always go to the source to find the truth. I’m running because I have a heart for service and I look forward to ensuring the best possible education for our students.”
Knight agreed that attracting and retaining qualified teachers is a big issue. “The number of college students going into the field is declining each year,” she said.
“Something else that is important to me is the reading program. Dyslexic students are not screened in our schools and there is a big population of dyslexic students. It is not recognized as a disability.”
The candidates agreed on several other issues, including whether or not parents should be allowed to opt in on surveys and certain programs rather than being required to opt out.
But they parted ways when it came to the issue of divisive concepts making their way into the school system, Valdes said there is no doubt they have. While the School Board has long maintained critical race theory is not part of the curriculum. Valdes argued that Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI),which the Board adopted as part of its strategic plan years ago, is a major concept of CRT.
Valdes said research shows that DEI is imbedded in teacher training, classes, supplemental sources and the school libraries. “Case in point, the school system suspended DEI because they agree with us. But it’s still in our books and libraries,” he said.
Knight, who has stated on her website that CRT is not part of the Forsyth County curriculum, said, “On the other hand, I do believe that DEI and SEL (Social Emotional Learning) do have their place in our schools. We shouldn’t throw the baby out with the bath water.”
SPLOST referendum, Cumming Mayoral race at stake today
News November 2, 2021
Dr. Jeff Bearden
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. – It’s Election Day. Today citizens of the City of Cumming will choose their next mayor. But most eyes in the county will be on the $300 million education special purpose local option sales tax (ESPLOST) vote where angry citizens opposed to what they believe to be divisive social initiatives being taught in the county’s schools have threatened to defeat the tax.
In the mayor’s race, incumbent first-term Mayor Troy Brumbalow faces a challenge from attorney William Allen Stone III.
The current five-year SPLOST will expire in March 2022 and School Board members have threatened to raise property taxes if it is rejected.
At the heart of the conflict is Critical Race Theory (CRT) a concept that opponents say pits black children against whites and paints whites as the oppressor and blacks as the oppressed, Hundreds of citizens opposed to the ideology have packed the Forsyth County School Board meeting room for months speaking out in opposition. They have committed to defeating the SPLOST.
School Superintendent Dr. Jeff Bearden says CRT is not being taught in county schools. But opponents claim that closely-related ideologies like Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) and Social Emotional Learning (SEL) are and they want them banned. School Board members voted to suspend DEI training last summer. But opponents say Dana Peguero, who was hired as a DEI specialist with a six-figure income is still on staff and they believe if the SPLOST measure passes, DEI training will continue.
Polls open at 7 a.m. today and will remain open until 7 p.m.
State Rep blasts school board’s DIE plan, says opponents should stand up
News July 27, 2021
State Rep. Sheri Gilligan
CUMMING, Ga. – District 24 State Representative Sheri Gilligan spoke out against the Forsyth County strategic plan Monday saying, “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is more about division, exclusion and intimidation. If you disagree with them, you get intimidated. I believe it is harming our children.”
During Monday’s Forsyth County Tea Party meeting, Gilligan encouraged DEI and Critical Race Theory opponents to continue to speak out publicly, especially at Forsyth County School Board meetings.
“When you go to speak, it may look like they aren’t listening to you,” she said. “But understand your audience is the people who are watching you. Not just the ones that are in that room. You may not get the head nod in that room but you are making a difference.”
Loudon County Virginia has been featured on many national news outets for weeks for their fight with the local school board over CRT. The county is on the frontline of the war on CRT which has led states like Florida, Arkansas, Idaho and Oklahoma to ban the ideology. More than a dozen other states, including Georgia, are debating a ban.
“How do we know about Loudon County,” Gilligan asked a Tea Party audience Monday. “Because they did not fail to show up. They showed up. They spoke out. We all know about Loudon County. You need to be the next Loudon County.”
Gilligan said many state legislators are considering some type of ban when the General Assembly reconvenes later this year.
“We won’t use the words CRT because what happens is words get changed. I do believe there will be a lot of support for something like that. It’s about treating people equally and not creating a division.”
Robbins talk on Critical Race Theory fires up Monday Tea Party meeting
News July 27, 2021
Jane Robbins
CUMMING, Ga. – A large crowd filled the VFW Hall last night (July 26) to hear Jane Robbins talk about Critical Race Theory (CRT), which has become a very hot topic nationally and in Forsyth County in particular these last few months where school officials claim that Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) not CRT is not being taught in schools.
Robbins, an attorney and senior fellow with the American Principles Project in Washington, D.C., is a graduate of Clemson University and Harvard Law School who has crafted legislation designed to restore the Constitutional autonomy of states and parents in education and protect religious freedom in America.
Her 60-minute talk which centered on the dangers of CRT was so electric that it actually knocked out the power in the building momentarily. Or perhaps it was the brief thunderstorm rumbling through Cumming. At any rate, the topic was a timely one since the Forsyth County School System has come under fire from those who believe the schools Diversity, Equity and Inclusion strategic plan is really Critical Race Theory in disguise.
In addition to a slide presentation, Robbins provided a handout entitled “Vocabulary for Understanding the 21st century Woke Schools” which describes CRT as racial scapegoating that includes concepts like: black and brown races are inherently superior to the white race; every white individual is inherently racist and oppressive; a white individual should be discriminated against or receive adverse treatment solely or partly because of his race and that white people should not attempt to treat others the same without respect to race.
Robbins’ said the woke vocabulary defines anti-racist as someone who constantly agitates for race-based social justice. Anti-racist, she points out, is to be distinguished from non-racist because merely not being racist is considered inadequate.
She also compared the terms “equity” and “equality” by explaining that in today’s woke lexicon, equality means treating students the same is racist because students who are considered historically oppressed should be treated better than other students.
Other tenets of CRT, she said, include: the belief that work ethic is a racist concept; linear thinking is a racist concept; family cohesion is a racist concept; politeness is racist concept. “When you are telling kids to be polite in school that is a white supremacist concept,” she said. “Jogging is racist. Table manners are racist.”
She also criticized the 1619 project, a work produced by the New York Times which won the Pulitzer Prize. The discredited project claimed the war with Great Britain was fought due to the colonists’ fear that Great Britain would force an end to slavery.
Robbins was frequently interrupted by loud applause and questions from Tea Party members who are concerned about CRT and DEI infecting Forsyth County schools.
Jane Robbins will be guest speaker at Monday’s Forsyth County Tea Party meeting
Press Release July 23, 2021PRESS RELEASE
Jane Robbins
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. – Jane Robbins, an attorney and senior fellow with the American Principles Project who has testified before Congress and 12 state legislatures, will be the featured speaker at the Forsyth County Tea Party meeting Monday, July 26 at VFW,1045 Dahlonega Hwy. A meet and greet starts at 6:30 pm and our meeting starts at 7 pm.
Robbins, a graduate of Clemson University and the Harvard Law School, has worked on issues related to education, parental rights, and religious freedom. Since retiring from APP she has focused on issues related to the sexualization of children in schools, healthcare, and the culture at large. Her articles on these topics have been published in numerous national media outlets. She also serves on the board of a new organization called American Achievement Testing, which is developing a traditional U.S. history curriculum to be offered to high schools as an alternative to current leftist models.
We will be continuing our series on Critical Race Theory and DEI and the recent events at the Forsyth County School Board Meeting that gained significant community interest and news coverage
Stop CRT movement is gaining momentum
News July 19, 2021
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. – The Stop Critical Race Theory (CRT) movement is gaining momentum nationally and in Forsyth County where hundreds of angry protestors will gather at Tuesday’s Board of Education meeting to demand that CRT be removed from schools.
The meeting inside will begin at 6 p.m. The meeting in the parking lot will start an hour earlier. Social media has been exploding for weeks calling on those who believe CRT to be a Marxist-originated, racist ideology that divides people and families to attend the meeting.
Concerned Parents of Forsyth County Georgia, a private Facebook page that boasts of 1,500 followers, has been the leading voice of opposition in the county. Its followers are angry and at least one person has suggested a recall petition for School Board members. Others have called for Superintendent Dr. Jeff Bearden to step down.
Truth in Education, a non-profit organization, has also called on its members to attend Tuesday’s meeting and President Rhonda Thomas has said she will set up a table in the parking lot to distribute information about CRT.
Monica Matthews, a member of Republican Women of Forsyth County, will address the crowd and Tim Coffey has invited everyone to join him in prayer for those who oppose CRT and for the students who support it.
School officials have insisted that CRT is not in Forsyth County Schools and the strategic plan they adopted in 2017 – Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) – has nothing to do with CRT. Opponents are just as adamant that DEI is just CRT by a different name.
Dawson County Republican Party presents discussion on Critical Race Theory
News June 23, 2021
DAWSON COUNTY, Ga. — Parents who are concerned about the danger of the Marxist-inspired Critical Race Theory (CRT) being pushed on public school students all across America are being invited to attend a discussion presented by the Dawson County Republican Party Monday, June 28 at 6:15 p.m. at 30 Main Street in Dawsonville.
The non-profit organization Truth in Education will present valuable information on how to recognize CRT and its aliases Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) and Social Emotional Learning (SEL).
Here in Georgia, parents in Forsyth, Cherokee and Gwinnett counties are taking a strong stand against the indoctrination of their children by this radical leftist ideology. In Forsyth County, hundreds of parents have loudly voiced their disapproval of DEI to the Forsyth County Board of Education.
Presenters are also expected to share their ideas on how parents and others can effectively prevent school systems from implementing CRT.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Forsyth, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
Expect another full house when BOE meets Tuesday
News June 14, 2021Dr. Jeff Bearden
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. – The Forsyth County Board of Education will hold two called meetings prior to the regular monthly meeting on Tuesday June 15. At 5 p.m., the Board will meet to discuss ratification of a property sale, followed at 5:30 p.m. by a public hearing on the FY 2022 budget.
Several key items appear on the regular meeting agenda at 6p.m., including approval of the FY 2022 budget and the proposed SPLOST 6 project list.
But, it is the Public Participation portion of that meeting that is expected to draw another standing-room-only crowd when angry opponents of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) strategic plan to demand it be removed from Forsyth County Schools.
Opponents say that DEI is merely a Trojan horse that hides Critical Race Theory (CRT), an ideology that judges people by the color of their skin and not the content of their character and segregates them into two groups – white people are the oppressors and blacks are the oppressed.
Superintendent Dr. Jeff Bearden says CRT is not being taught in Forsyth County Schools.
Anti-CRT fervor heating up in Forsyth County
News June 7, 2021
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. – Parents of Forsyth County students are mad as hell and they say they are not going to take it anymore.
The popular website Concerned Parents of Forsyth County Georgia exploded with negative comments about the Forsyth County Board of Education following the Board’s May meeting.
School officials claim that the school system “does not and will not teach nor promote Critical Race Theory (CRT).” Parents say that statement is deceptive because one component of the schools’ strategic plan, adopted in 2017, is Diversity, Inclusion and Equity, which a number of education experts have said is another name for CRT.
The school website states the strategic plan was developed “working in partnership with Georgia Leadership Institute for School Improvement (GLISI),” a strong advocate for CRT.
Conservative radio talk show host Erick Erickson says “GLISI has embraced systemic racism as a problem and that “equity” is needed as a cure. You can say it is not critical theory, but the whole concept is actively derived from critical theory.”
Forsyth County Commissioner Laura Ohnsman Semanson agreed. “A big part of this is semantics,” she posted. Whether or not they are “teaching” CRT if strictly interpreted can be explained away through giving the program a different name, but when the actual programming from the provider (GLISI) is examined (regardless of its name) it is deeply rooted in CRT principles. Further, one could argue it’s not being “taught” because those being instructed in the material are the educators themselves.”
Jenny Clark posted a question: “How much has this “partnership” with the GLISI cost the Forsyth County taxpayers?”
Several posters want to know what the Board is hiding. Mendy Parker Moore posted, “Looks like the teacher training platform is no longer accessible. Of course they’re covering their tracks. Not surprised but it’s very discouraging that they don’t value transparency.”
Again, Commissioner Semanson agreed. “I am not at all surprised. In the past they have failed to produce preliminary maps and related work product related to redistricting (which many believe to be highly political).”
Meg Braskett added, “A few more links I scrolled through that have been posted on here have been scrubbed from the site too…so frustrating and disappointing.”
Some posters like Tamara Bourque Sclafani and Tiffany Hall Donofrio expressed a desire to “vote (Board of Education members) out or have them recalled.”
The anger and resentment parents feel toward the Board of Education does not appear to be going away any time soon.
Danielle Reneman, who spoke at the May meeting, posted, “It’s time to get organized for the next BOE meeting!”
Beth Tipton stated, “Folks need to now turn that energy and determination into constructive strategy and action.”
Margie Robinson Carroll encouraged parents to join local school councils which she said are forming now. “You should know who they are and how they will speak for you when at the “round table”. Seems we are missing a voice at these tables at our individual schools as well! Time to get more involved with your children’s education and future. ”
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Forsyth, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
State Board of Education approves resolution on the teaching of race in state’s classrooms
News June 3, 2021
ATLANTA – Meeting in special session today (June 3) the Georgia State Board of Education voted 11-2 in favor of a resolution that supports Gov. Brian Kemp’s contention that “critical race theory (CRT) is a dangerous ideology that should not take root in the state’s standards or curriculum.”
While the resolution does not specifically mention CRT or any other concept, it does refer to the characteristics that many CRT opponents have used to describe the concept.
“Concepts that impute fault, blame, a tendency to oppress others, or the need to feel guilt or anguish to persons solely because of their race or sex violate the premises of individual rights, equal opportunity, and individual merit underpinning our constitutional republic, and therefore have no place in training for teachers, administrators, or other employees of the public educational system of the State of Georgia” the resolution states.
It further states that the department believes no federal grant should be accepted that includes curriculum that would “indoctrinate students in social, or political, ideology or theory, or promote one race or sex above another” and that educators should not teach anything suggesting that one race or sex is superior to another or that members of a race should feel guilty about their identity.
In 2017, the Forsyth County School System adopted a strategic plan it calls “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI).” Angry parents turned out in large numbers at a school board meeting last month to charge that DEI is no more than CRT in disguise. It is unclear how today’s ruling will impact the school system.
The resolution also appears to address the widely-discredited 1619 Project by stating that no teacher should teach that “the advent of slavery in the territory that is now the United States constituted the true founding of the United States; or that, with respect to their relationship to American values, slavery and racism are anything other than deviations from, betrayals of, or failures to live up to, the authentic founding principles of the United States, which include liberty and equality.”
A Resolution
of the State Board of Education of the State of Georgia
June 3, 2021
WHEREAS, all public educational systems of the State of Georgia operate on the principle that all
teachers, administrators, other employees, and students in the respective educational system are,
and are to be treated as, individuals endowed with equal inalienable rights, without respect to race
or sex; and
WHEREAS, concepts that impute fault, blame, a tendency to oppress others, or the need to feel
guilt or anguish to persons solely because of their race or sex violate the premises of individual
rights, equal opportunity, and individual merit underpinning our constitutional republic, and
therefore have no place in training for teachers, administrators, or other employees of the public
educational system of the State of Georgia; and
WHEREAS, for the same reasons, such concepts should not be inculcated in students of the public
educational system of the State of Georgia; and
WHEREAS, true civic education is not political action itself but rather preparation for life; and
WHEREAS, respect for the liberties of students and teachers, the views of a politically diverse
citizenry, and the tradition of institutional neutrality that flows from these, means that political
activism has no place in education funded by the State of Georgia; and
WHEREAS, the free speech, conscience, and religious liberty rights of teachers and students ought
to be respected; and
WHEREAS, the ability of the citizens of the state of Georgia and its publicly funded school
districts to control K-12 curriculum content in courses on history, civics, social studies, and similar
topics through their elected representatives should not be ceded to either the federal government
or private entities.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT:
We, the State Board of Education for the State of Georgia;
- Believes the United States of America is not a racist country, and that the state of Georgia
is not a racist state,
- Affirms we will continue making decisions affecting K-12 public education based on the
best interests of all students regardless of their race or sex, and that our collective focus
remains that of providing the highest quality education to every child in Georgia without
political bias or political influence,
- Affirms that Education in Georgia should reflect our fundamental values as a state and
nation – freedom, equality, and the God-given potential of every individual,
- Affirms that we will not support, or impart, any K-12 public education resources or
standards which (i) indoctrinate students in social, or political, ideology or theory, or (ii)
promote one race or sex above another,
- Believes that no state education agency, school di district, or school shall teach, instruct, or
train any administrator, teacher, staff member, or employee to adopt or believe any of the
following concepts: (a) one race or sex is inherently superior to another race or sex; (b) an
individual, by virtue of his or her race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive,
whether consciously or unconsciously; (c) an individual should be discriminated against or
receive adverse treatment solely or partly because of the individual’s race; (d) members of
one race cannot or should not attempt to treat others without respect to race; (e) an
individual’s moral standing or worth is necessarily determined by his or her race or sex; (f)
an individual, by virtue of his or her race or sex, bears responsibility for actions committed
in the past by other members of the same race or sex; (g) an individual should feel
discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress on account of his or
her race or sex; (h) meritocracy or traits such as a hard work ethic are racist or sexist, or
were created by members of a particular race to oppress members of another race; (i) fault,
blame, or bias should be assigned to a race or sex, or to members of a race or sex because
of their race or sex.
- Believes that no teacher, administrator, or other employee in any state education agency,
school district, or school administration shall approve for use, make use of, or carry out,
standards, curricula, lesson plans, textbooks, instructional materials, or instructional
practices that serve to inculcate in students the following concepts: (a) one race or sex is
inherently superior to another race or sex; (b) an individual, by virtue of his or her race or
sex, is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously; (c)
an individual should be discriminated against or receive adverse treatment solely or partly
because of the individual’s race; (d) members of one race cannot and should not attempt to
treat others without respect to race; (e) an individual’s moral standing or worth is
necessarily determined by his or her race or sex; (f) an individual, by virtue of his or her
race or sex, bears responsibility for actions committed in the past by other members of the
same race or sex; (g) any individual should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other
form of psychological distress on account of his or her race or sex; (h) meritocracy or traits
such as a hard work ethic are racist or sexist, or were created by a members of a particular
race to oppress members of another race; (i) that the advent of slavery in the territory that
is now the United States constituted the true founding of the United States; or (j) that, with
respect to their relationship to American values, slavery and racism are anything other than
deviations from, betrayals of, or failures to live up to, the authentic founding principles of
the United States, which include liberty and equality,
- Believes that no teacher of history, civics, U.S. government and politics, social studies, or similar subject areas, whether for regular credit or advanced placement credit, shall be compelled by a policy of any state education agency, school district, or school administration to discuss current events or widely debated and currently controversial issues of public policy or social affairs,
- Believes that teachers who choose to discuss current events or widely debated, and currently controversial issues of public policy or social affairs shall, to the best of their ability, strive to explore such issues from diverse and contending perspectives,
- Believes that in any course on history, civics, U.S. government and politics, social studies, or similar subject areas, whether for regular credit or advanced placement credit, no school shall require, make part of such course, or award course grading or credit to, student work for, affiliation with, or service learning in association with, any organization engaged in lobbying for legislation at the local, state, or federal level, or in social or public policy advocacy,
- Believes that in any course on history, civics, U.S. government and politics, social studies, or similar subject areas, whether for regular credit or advanced placement credit, no school shall require, make part of such course, or award course grading or credit to, lobbying for legislation at the local, state, or federal level, or any practicum, or like activity, involving social or public policy advocacy,
- Believes that no federal grant shall be applied for, or federal funding accepted, if such grant or funding requires or encourages the teaching of the concepts or implementation of the practices set forth in paragraphs (6) through (11) above, or if such grant or funding requires or encourages training teachers in such concepts or practices,
- Believes that no private funding shall be accepted by state education agencies or school districts for curriculum development, purchase or choice of curricular materials, teacher training, professional development, or continuing teacher education pertaining to courses on history, civics, U.S. government and politics, social studies, or similar subject areas, whether for regular credit or advanced placement credit, and
- Will, if not already codified, consider actions codifying in part or whole paragraphs (6) through (13) herein within State Education Rules filed with the Georgia Secretary of State as “Department 160. RULES OF GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.” In this resolution, “school” means public school, including open-enrollment charter school.
Forsyth County parents demand School System remove Critical Race Theory from schools
News May 23, 2021
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. – Last week, Governor Kemp sent a letter to the state Board of Education urging “immediate steps to ensure that Critical Race Theory and its dangerous ideology do not take root in our state standards and curriculum.” He called CRT “divisive and un-American.”
At about the same time, angry parents of Forsyth County students and others complained during a Board of Education meeting that CRT — which has its roots in Marxism — has already infected the local school system disguised as a strategic plan euphemistically labeled Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). And they demanded it be removed.
The meeting room was filled to capacity (approximately 200 people) and many more watched the proceedings on a lobby monitor as one-by-one, opponents blasted the concept they say pits Americans against one another and judges people by the color of their skin and not the content of their character.
Eddie Solly was the first to approach the rostrum and he torched a suggested reading list a school director tweeted to Forsyth County teachers last year that included such toxic titles as Me and White Supremacy, Dying of Whiteness, White Fragility and Lies My Teacher Told Me.”
Solly said, “These books can also be found as recommended reading on the pages of CRT, The 1619 Project and Marxist advocates. But this list is taken directly from the Forsyth County School Director of Communication and Community Engagement Twitter page. That same director called my cell phone from her office yesterday to confront me for following her Twitter page. She didn’t like the fact she thought I was using information from her page.”
Kendall Cameron said, “CRT has not formally been made part of the curriculum, however, resources are being provided to teachers to integrate it into lessons. Let’s be clear, if you are advocating or allowing the teaching of CRT, a concept grounded in ideology and not real scholarship, you are by the definition of the academy for over a century, promoting racism. If you have materials you are providing where it says if you are born a White male, you are an oppressor, then you are abusing our children.”
But the most moving comments came from Theresa Shen, a first-generation immigrant from China and the mother of a rising ninth grader in the Forsyth County School System who said, “I’ve traveled around the world and lived in several countries. America is the best country in the world. It is very sad for me to see the current Black Lives Matter and Antifa. These are mere words, but under a hidden agenda. So is CRT. It is rooted in communism. The same playbook is being played in communist societies. Divide and conquer. Make the population hate each other so they can control. DEI is in disguise of CRT.”
Another speaker told Board members, “This problem will not go away until it is condemned and removed.”
School officials stubbornly and arrogantly say their DEI plan is not the same as CRT and they will not change it. So much for listening to those who elected you. Very few opponents were buying it. They say if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it’s probably a duck.
Forsyth County GOP President Hunter Hill called DEI “a Marxist Trojan Horse disguised with sunshine, rainbow and a bow on top. This is Marxism 101 and it’s anti-American.”
CRT has enjoyed some early acceptance in some states but many others are beginning to push back vigorously. State legislatures in Georgia, Tennessee, Texas, Arkansas, Arizona and South Dakota are debating banning the practice.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Forsyth, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com