Thread by @IAmAmnaNawaz

I’m at a Loudoun County school board meeting. Packed room. A debate over critical race theory in schools has divided this community in recent weeks. Tonight, for the first time in the pandemic, the public was allowed back in to these meetings.

Protestors started gathering outside long before the meeting began. Parents who oppose the district’s equity efforts as they’ve been rolled out are organizing to oust school board members.

Masks are required inside and the room was swept for security before the meeting. Armed security are posted at the entrances and inside the meeting room. Fair to say, tensions here are high.

One of the school board members just said 121 members of the public signed up to speak tonight. 😳

One parent opposing critical race theory in schools tells board members “just teach children without your political agenda” - says teaching kids about systemic racism divides them. (For the record, the superintendent says critical race theory is not taught in schools)

Couldn’t even get through the first 30 minutes of comments without crowd yelling, interrupting, clapping, some boos. School board members just adjourned “so the room can find its decorum” and left the room.

The room is unhappy.

Board is back. Comments continue. Parent after parent, and some former students, saying trust has been broken, that “one side’s agenda” is being imposed on the other, and those who disagree are being “silenced.”

One parent says she’s very worried about what she’s seeing in schools:
“Training our children to be social justice warriors” and “to hate our country”

Parents repeatedly calling for “better communication” and “transparency” from school board. They’re asking for access to all the equity training teachers receive. They want advance notice of potential big contracts (>$5k) with a public comment period.

One parent: “I will fight to the bitter end...if you teach my children that they are racist just because they’re white”

Another mom, self-identifies as Christian, says she leads with love, does not see skin color. To school board: “know this. We will not yield. We will not let you have the souls of our children.”

A former teacher at the podium says educators should be neutral. Says teachers are being “forced to teach progressive values” including equity and she feels her 1st Amendment rights are being violated.

“It’s not fair that far left teachers can express their views, but conservative teachers like myself get bullied and retaliated against” - a teacher from a neighboring district speaking now.