Thread by @beyond_process

Grand Ledge, MI Superintendent and President of the Michigan Association of School Adminsters Brian Metcalf is being dragged on a board call by 600 people for saying George Floyd deserved to die for possibly spending a counterfeit $20. It is great TV.

zoom.us/j/562395058

A man from Booklyn, NY with kids in the district calling is breaking down calling because the community is coming together, and it has been hard for his family living through racism in the city. His dog barks sympathy barks.

"The guys' got to go. Let's just be frank about it."

The next woman says "there is a value to good will, and right now Grand Ledge has no good will with the people." "The board has experience of white people." "The board reacted like a parent who doesn't want to know what her kid is doing." She calls for board diversity training.

A woman says Dr Metcalf has resigned. The board says they are aware he resigned from MASA, not the district. We are breaking for lunch for 30 minutes. They will try to get Dr. Metcalf on the phone for the second half. I'm planning to talk to them about school board elections. 😇

Back at public comment. Dr. Metcalf is now on the call.

A mother of a biracial child asks the board how she can trust her child under Dr. Metcalf. She says he lacks competency, empathy, and awareness of self. She explains institutional racism very well. She is hurt & disgusted.

Zach, an incoming freshman at GL puts Metcalf on blast. He highlights how badly Metcalf reflects on the Grand Ledge school district.

"My generation wants change. We want a world that celebrates diversity."

"The public is outrage."

"Districts should act for every student."

Jacqueline is a civil rights attorney, and mother of 3 children, including a daughter who stood up to the district 3 years ago when they forced her to wear a Confederate flag pin. I'm serious. Superintendent Metcalf defended the practice.

lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/loc…

"I respectfully respect that the board do the right thing and send a message that Dr. Metcalf must go."

Pat Williams is a retired teacher and lifetime Grand Ledge resident. She is "usually all about second chances" but not in Metcalf's case. She says progess on inclusion has moved to slow. #Blacklivesmatter #NoJusticeNoPeace

Her husband puts some fire to the board. I will too. 😇

A teacher, and Grand Ledge alumn from St. Johns. She fears parents who have been distrustful because of her race. She believed the city has moved away from a legacy of racism, but Metcalf shattered her hope.

Amanda from Nashville has called in. She is normally proud to be from Grand Ledge. She is upset that board initially decided not to fire Metcalf. She is a teacher of predominantly black students, and talks about the school to prison pipeline and systemic calls, ties it to Metcalf

Amanda calls out victim blaming from Dr. Metcalf, compares it to the MSU President and the univeristy's sexual assault problem.

Freneka has a son who is a senior through school of choice. She is thankful he has had no issue so far. Her son couldn't believe seeing other students wearing confederate flags. She says Metcalf only apologized because he was caught.

Robert Batterham is a white male married to an African American woman. They moved to Grand Ledge because they wanted their kids to have a geat education. He calls out Metcalf's victim blaming.

He breaks up crying for a moment talking about a world who doesn't view his boys as loving and kind human beings.

The next woman adopted 4 children of color and feels like her family has been disrespected by the community because of Dr. Metcalf's words. Her 6 year old experienced racism, and her teachers successfully intervened.

Guys:

The next speaker is terrified of her kid attending school in this community.

She uses Metcalf's words against him. "It all starts with being a good citizen."

Megan Jacobs is 2009 GL alumn. Her husband is Quincy Jacobs. He loved going to school. He never got in trouble. In 2007, he was illegally drug tested by GL's principal. He was put on school probations. He had to get a GED in Philadelphia, and could not return. Holy shit!

GL refused to give her husband her diploma. Two others were forced to Philly as well. A Black man and a Latino. Both died before they reached the age of 40.

A 2020 GL grad is infuriating by Brian Metcalf's words. He thanks speakers for their support. He tears up explaining the pain it has caused him. He hopes the board makes the right decision.

The next call starts with #blacklivesmatter. He says the public deserves to confront Metcalf face to face.

Raymone from Delta twp is a precinct delegate (weird flex, but ok). He's coached soccer for GL students. He is from Stone Mountain, GA. He works for the Michigan State Police and says Metcalf's words are shameful. He says the education system is amazing but things can be better.

He closes by praying for Metcalf to understand the pain he caused and hopw he moves in the right directions.

The next caller is from Grand Rapid, MI. He says Metcalf is the moral equivalent of "the officer who knelt on George Floyd's kneck." He says what happens in GL reflects on Michigan and the country.

Ashley is next. She is a Lansing resident.The adults at a GL basketball game chanted racial slurs at her school's team. It was in 2002 and I was a senior. I remember this well. Most white people in MI have no idea it happened.

Just made my comments. It felt really good y'all!

A board member just emailed me to thank me for what I said. You love to see it!

2016 GL alumn says her senior year was ruined by COVID and she's now a zoom expert. She says Metcalf can hide his video but she can't hide the color of her skin. She mentions seeing KKK rallies in Lansing. She said Metcalf has no excuse.

The next caller has family in Minnesota, and requests Metcalf be let go.

The next caller is from Studio City, CA. He moved from South Lansing to GL in 5th grade. It was the 1st time he was called the n-word with a hard r.

He mentions a Black student who was harrassed by white students for dating a white girl.

He says no one has defend Metcalf.

Sean Vaugn is on. He has 2 students at Grand Ledge. He finds it painfully difficult to think they are being led by administrators who don't understand systemic racism.

David is the 3rd caller from MI who grew up in Michigan. He moved to Lansing because his parents wanted him to experience more diversity. He mention's the school board president's houndstooth jacket and compares it to @GovWhitmer's style. Says the baord needs sensitivity training

Rachel says she is scared because Metcalf has silenced her before. Rachel is a biracial PhD student at MSU.

Theresa Abed is a GL resident. She was a county commissioner and state rep. She says this is about empathy and understanding, not about blaming victims.

"When you witness injustice you must speak up!" ✊🏽

The next caller Laura Guild has a disturbing story: Dr. Metcalf, while hugging her, whispered to a mother at her son's funeral after he died at school. He said, "We took a look at the video and there is no reason to lawyer up." She confronted him later and he denied saying it.

Chelsea has a daughter who is school choiced into GLPS. She says Metcalf's words are unacceptable. She says he is dragging the community's name in the mud.

Caroline de Mauriac: "#hisnamewasgeorgefloyd & #blacklivesmatter."

The next caller Paula quotes Edmund Burke. And quotes him well.

She asks if the board has made a decision.

The board clarifies they will discuss the situation for the first time in a closed meeting without Dr. Metcalf.

This racist is getting shitcanned.

Haley, the next caller, agrees with all previous callers, which you kind of have to if you have a heart, she first heard the n-word in 3rd grade. Her white classmates were excited to read the word in middle school. She wonders why she didn't have more diversity training at GLPS.

Kara is the adoptive mother of a biracial child and is an educator. She lives in the UP. She trains cops on handling mental health crisis situations. She would have driven 8 hours to the meeting if it were held in person to say she is sad to hear what happened but not surprised.

Sara Downs is a GL senior. She has experienced sexism and homophobia and witnessed racism. She is ashamed to be from in the community, and tears up with rsge when she says she can't even bring herself to tell people where her home is.

Tamela Jones, who has been instrumental in amplifying this issue on Favebook and on the ground is jow speaking. He daughter biracial. Her daughter heard racial slurs daily. Her daughter saw students in a truck with a confederate flag shouting slurs at 2 Black Students...

...Metcalf was notified and did absolutely nothing. She calls out Board Trustee Jerrod Smith for attempting to sweep the issue under the rug. Tamela calls for him to resign.

I know personally, he doesn't reply to emails like the other board members.

Katie Pontifex is on the Michigan Nurses Association (@minurses follow them) board. She says "racism is a public health crisis." She tells the board this was the time to rise to change and instead we've watched Metcalf and the district fall. She is a sparrow nurse. They're badass

Caleb Shin is going to be a senior and lives in Okemos, he says the assistant vice principal was fired there for saying racist things. He thinks the board should use that as an example.

Derrick Worthey is upset about Dr. Metcalf's racism. He calls it out as white supremecy. America shouldn't even have to be discussing these things in 2020. He says it is sad that his family has to worry when going to rural communities. For him the sicness of racism is intolerable

15 callers to go!

Jaden is a GL student, and he asks the board to put themselves in the shoes of an African American teenager. He believes Metcalf needs to go. He says an awesome teacher at Grand Ledge used to say some good advice for the board, "No your role, shut your hole, and do your job."

Amy has biracial children. One has a 504 (disability education) plan. It was not followed. She said the school told her it was her son's responsibility to remind the teacher of his needs. If you care about a disabled person and saw it, you'd be crying like me.

The next caller didn't plan to talk but he did so to call out Metcalf for turning off his video during the meeting.

Denise Green has sat in meetings with Metcalf and watched him degrade teachers and parents. She says this is who Brian Metcalf is. She wants him replaced with a person of color. She says Trustee Pierson was the only one to take this seriously. That's my read too.

The next caller says a summer reading program Metcalf tried to gut literally saved his life.

The next caller Brandon is queer and biracial. He is set to be placed as a new teacher in GLPS. He calls out whitewashed heteronormative curriculum. He grew up in Portland, which is another rural town with a reputation for racism. Calls for Metcalf to step down.

Metcalf's "gaslighting was a slap in the face" to this mother of a biracial student. She says her son's father shouldn't have to warn about being careful in the world because of how he is treated for the color of his skin.

Subhi is a student who calls out the racism, especially at Grand Ledge sports.

It has been this way or worse my entire life.

Kathy Reed is the first racist to go to bat for Dr Metcalf. She says his racist comments were about promoting civic responsibility, and he didn't mention black people. HE WAS TALKING ABOUT GEORGE FLOYD.

"Dont make Dr. Metcalf responsible for this community."

Bootlicker at the local level, Kathy Green also tries to say the 80 or so comments condemning Metcalf represent a "minority of people" she claims the majority are scared to speak up and defend the racist superintendent.

FUCKING GOOD!

She also plugged the candice owens hostage video. 🤦🏽‍♂️

Ella Hanks drops bombs on Green. She had already spoken, but jumped in to make the call out. She took issue with characterization of the callers as minority of opinions.

Kyle Dymond continues blasting Green and pivots to saying Metcalf needs to resign. You can not teach supporters to make comments so well. This is organic and it is phenomenal.

The next caller Kaye Fitts welcomes the board to their first racism sensitivy training class. She is a 2002 alumn of GLPS (just like the first girl I ever kissed)!

She calls for antiracist schholing.

"We're not going to tolerate any more."

Sam is a senior at GL. He is friends with a boy who died at school. The boy's mother commented earlier. He condemns Metcalf for telling his friends mom not to sue while hugging her at the funeral. Metcalf should be unemployable.

The next caller was homed schooled and has little faith in the education in the United States, but because it is systemically racist and underfunded. He's angry. I'm angry. You should be angry too.

The next caller is from Battle Creek and went to Grand Ledge schools. She pulls out Metcalfs contract which says he can be fired for moral turpitude. How cool is that?

A white guy, whose name really is Chuck Pantera, gives us NIMBY greast hits, rapid fire:

"I know in my heart of hearts that Metcalf is not a racist."

"Property values are going up!"

"I just hope this doesn't hurt my business."

"How do I hang this thing up?"

A production of Matilda had to be postponed for COVID. Helen Hart helped produce it. She says the production doesn't want to be associated with GLPS.

Ariel Rogers runs the annual screening of the Rocky Horror Picture Show in Grand Ledge. She calls out Chuck Pantera who owns the venue and is one of 2 people supporting Metcalf.

Infuriated, autocorrected

A 9 year old is sad that our leader has meaness in their heart.

The meeting is now being zoombombed by racists.

They shut the meeting down, I will check if they are restarting. They were being raided by racists.

Thank you to the two white ladies who waited until 3 hours in to start making their comments. We got to hear more black voices before it was disrupted because of you.

Fire Brian Metcalf.

#blacklivesmatter

The Chuck Pantera video is at the link below. He owns the Sun Theater in Grand Ledge, MI. Don't go there. If you pay with cash and he thinks it is a fake $20 he believes he has the right to have you executed in the street in broad daylight.

facebook.com/10031947504818…

@threadreaderapp unroll please.

Good job everyone, we made the arc bend toward justice today!