Fairfax County activist on parents opposing critical race theory: 'Let them die'
A local Virginia activist exhorted a crowd gathered outside of a Fairfax County school board meeting to "let them die" in reference to parents who oppose the school district's racial justice curricula and efforts to reform admissions policies, among other things.
Michelle Leete, who is vice president of the NAACP's Fairfax chapter and a leader in the Virginia state PTA, made the comments while speaking to a group of counterprotesters who were present during a "Stop CRT rally," in reference to critical race theory, on Thursday.
“While they deny it’s being taught, [National Education Association] doubles down," a flyer for the event said, according to the Daily Wire. "It’s not about race or equity, it’s about a Communist Radical Takeover of America!”
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Leete accused the rally-goers and other parents like them of being "anti-education" and "anti-children" and urged parents to push back:
So let’s meet and remain steadfast in speaking truth, tearing down double standards, and refuting double talk. Let’s prepare our children for a world they deserve. Let’s deny this off-key band of people that are anti-education, anti-teacher, anti-equity, anti-history, anti-racial reckoning, anti-opportunities, anti-help people, anti-diversity, anti-platform, anti-science, anti-change agent, anti-social justice, anti-healthcare, anti-worker, anti-LGBTQ+, anti-children, anti-healthcare, anti-worker, anti-environment, anti-admissions policy change, anti-inclusion, anti-live-and-let live people.
"Let them die," Leete went on to say to applause. "Don’t let these uncomfortable people deter us from our bold march forward."
“Let them die,” says @FairfaxNAACP leader Michelle Leete at protest before @fcpsnews board. Folks against critical race theory are here, with protestors including Leete opposing them. It’ll be 🧨 tonight. Watch at https://t.co/KuScNenTVQ pic.twitter.com/Csb5faEYKG
— Asra Q. Nomani (@AsraNomani) July 15, 2021
Fairfax County, along with neighboring Loudoun County, have become battlegrounds in the fight between parents and school districts that have enabled various racial equity initiatives authorized in the name of countering discrimination and racial disparities.
In Fairfax County, a decision by the school board to throw out standardized testing requirements and application fees for the magnet Thomas Jefferson High School, one of the nation's best performing schools, as a means to diversify the mostly Asian American student body sparked claims of discrimination and lawsuits from parents.
Thomas Jefferson's Fall 2021 class will have an increase in the number of black students from 1% to 7% over the year before, according to county data. Hispanic freshmen will increase from 3% to 11% of the student body, while the number of white students will increase from 22% to 18%.
The percentage of Asian American students will be lowered to 54% from 73% the year before.
"The numbers validate the argument that they've launched a targeted attack on Asian Americans," said Asra Nomani, the mother of an Asian American Thomas Jefferson student and a leading voice among parents opposed to the policy change.
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Leete's comments Thursday constituted a "call to violence" against parents such as Nomani who oppose the admissions policy change, said Harry Jackson, president-elect of Thomas Jefferson's parent-teacher association.
“I was in shock looking at the crowd, watching Ms. Leete pander to white liberals with her hateful rhetoric," he told the Daily Wire.
Leete did not immediately respond to the Washington Examiner's request for comment.
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Tags: News, Fairfax County, Virginia, NAACP, Race and Diversity, Critical Race Theory
Original Author: Jeremy Beaman
Original Location: Fairfax County activist on parents opposing critical race theory: 'Let them die'
