Thread by @oliviakrauth

Hello from outside of JCPS central office!

This is the first in-person protest against critical race theory in Kentucky’s largest school district. About two dozen folks here.

Various signs: “No CRT in schools,” “I am against indoctrinating students with critical race theory,” “one race, human race.”

And this one.

And a Three Percenter? Maybe?

A man speaking to reporters says JCPS has tons of failing schools. CRT seeks to divide us, he says.

A woman says JCPS is calling CRT “equity.” Those are two different concepts.

“We have to get in front of this,” the woman says.

Kentucky’s anti-CRT legislation isn’t on the table for five months.

She falsely says again JCPS is hiding CRT as equity.

A reminder: Outside of a handful of mentions in a reference list for an elective course offered at, at most, 10 schools, CRT is not in the curriculum.

courier-journal.com/story/news/edu…

A reporter asked the woman how she defines CRT: “It’s judging people strictly on the color of their skin.”

That’s false. Here’s what critical race theory is.

courier-journal.com/story/news/edu…

I’m not sure if the crowd is growing or if they keeping getting closer.

The Three Percenter is now right behind the people speaking to media.

The man in white just “double-dog dared” anyone to debate someone in this group about critical race theory.

OK there is now a child holding a three percenter sign.

“We don’t see color of skin,” a woman says after saying she is not racist.

Same woman just asked a Black reporter if he feels as if he deserves reparations. Completely unprompted.

A white woman at the mic says she has traveled to Africa four times — probably more than most African Americans, she claims.

“I am amazed by the Africans.”

It is a packed house in VanHoose for tonight's JCPS board meeting. Many of the protesters got seats inside. Lots of anti-CRT signs.

They believe CRT could be added to the district's strategic plan, which is being workshopped right now. (CRT is not on the agenda.)

The speaker mentioned how racial equity is a pillar of the district's strategic plan — 57% of JCPS students identify as a racial minority.

A wave of anti-CRT signs went up. It is clear the crowd hears equity and thinks CRT.

Again: They are not the same thing.

There aren't any action items on tonight's agenda.

Tonight is just a series of work sessions on the strategic plan, prep work for the upcoming school year and a belated legislative recap.

It could be a long, bland evening.

Board member Corrie Shull asks data chief Dena Dossett to define equity.

Got some sort of noise from the crowd. A mix of an exhale and a laugh.

Dossett says the district has seen some gains in racial equity, but there is still work to do. Points out the suspension disparity.

Shull, a Black man who represents Newburg, thanks Dossett for her dedication to racial equity.

"All kids matter!" people start shouting. Someone banged a gavel. Chair Diane Porter is shouting them down.

People keeping shouting at Porter. "I do not want to hear your comments," Porter says.

One man stood up, said something about white kids, and walked out.

Board is taking a five minute recess.

OK the meeting has been derailed.

Security is arguing with someone, pointing out CRT is not on the agenda and this is not the time to talk about it.

Shull: I think y'all need to know critical race theory is not in the curriculum.

*yelling*

A large amount of the group is leaving while screaming. JCPS security is herding them out.

"Enough is enough!" someone says. CRT is not in the curriculum.

Frank Simon yells "you're doing a bad job" at what looks like Corrie Shull.

The woman who claimed to "not see color" then asked a Black reporter if he wanted reparations is now saying people are graduating from Manual HS without knowing how to read.

MANUAL. The academic magnet school.

Again, critical race theory is not on the agenda. This meeting is completely derailed for something that is not on the agenda.

Someone tells the group that remains that COVID curtailed the public comment section of the meeting.

Someone else asks what COVID is. Another says they had it and almost died.

OK, we are back after about half the crowd has been kicked out/left.

A look at a school board meeting in Kentucky’s largest district in Louisville.

The strategic plan discussion is coming to a close with no additional interruptions.

Porter: JCPS needs to do a better job explaining to the community just who their student body is because it appears like people don't understand.

JCPS is a majority-minority district, so racial equity is bringing better outcomes to the majority of students.

"What better way to continue the night than to talk about the General Assembly!" Pollio says as a super belated legislative session recap kicks off.

This recap is supposed to be focused on the 2021 session, but I would be surprised if the anti-CRT legislation prefiled for 2022 does not come up. 👀

The man in the white polo from the media gaggle earlier tipped his hat at Pollio and walked silently out of the meeting.

Took a stroll out of the board room. It looks like additional security was called in or magically arrived from somewhere in the building.

A group of protesters is still in the parking lot.

More than two hours into the meeting and we are down to one protester in the crowd at VanHoose.

Board vice chair Chris Kolb asked if the board has the authority to implement its own mask mandate. General counsel Kevin Brown says yes.

And the meeting has adjourned thankfully

JCPS Superintendent Marty Pollio says school boards across the country are seeing similar outbursts.

“We can’t let things take our eye off the ball.”

Shull says tonight came from “the outgrowth of pervasive misinformation” where some people hear equity and see a threat to their existence.

the "keeping" in this tweet is going to haunt me