critical race theory: AN american debate
Welcome to my webpage
This webpage is a public record of the Critical Race Theory (CRT) Protest that took place in Loudoun County, Virginia, U.S, on June 22, 2021. To quote my Professor, Stevie Bell (2022), this webpage ultimately aims to "provid[e] insight into our immediate future and the civic work that needs to be done to better our communities" (p.1).
Wait, what is critical race theory?
It is important to have an understanding of what this concept entails before looking at the protest event.
Check out these two videos for an explanation:
hEAR FROM AN EXPERT
University of California, Berkeley Sociology Professor Prudence Carter explains the difference between the academic framework and taking a critical approach to teaching about racism (PBS NewsHour, 2021).
crt and loudoun county
A rundown on Critical Race Theory with video footage from the protest in Loudoun County (Reuters, 2021).
Loudoun county: School board meeting-turned Protest
On June 22, 2021, a routine meeting to close out the school year for the Loudoun County school district was held in Ashburn, Virginia at the district’s headquarters (Heim et al, 2021). On the agenda, Brenda Sheridan, the chair of the school board, planned to mediate a discussion on the proposed policies to reaffirm transgender rights (Borter, 2021). But 260 parents had other plans, signing up to speak at the meeting about an “unofficial action item” regarding their opposition towards CRT being taught to their children in school (Sawicky, 2021; Borter, 2021).
After the murder of George Floyd - and other related events of police brutality in the Black community and the Black Lives Matter protests that later followed - various institutions began to update their curriculums and implement staff training to focus on systemic racism in the U.S (Alfonseca, 2022). Loudoun County came out publicly acknowledging their history of discrimination against Black and Latinx students, committing themselves to more equitable educational practices (Green, 2021).
Scott Mineo founded the local parent’s organization Parents Against Critical Race Theory (PACT) since allegedly receiving an invoice in June 2020 from a consulting group proving that the school district was billed for a follow-up meeting focused on developing CRT initiatives (Green, 2021). Superintendent Scott Ziegler says that “critics are conflating the theory with Loudoun’s efforts to bring equity,” in which the money was fact-checked to have been spent on seminars to teach their predominately white educator’s to be more “culturally responsive” (Fiske, 2022). Ziegler further clarified to parents that they are misinformed and Loudoun County has not been teaching K-12 students CRT (Nashrulla, 2021). Nonetheless, Mineo and PACT have persistently rallied behind efforts to ban CRT and remove teachers and elected school officials that openly support CRT from their positions (Heim et al, 2021). They are also responsible for organizing this protest (Heim et al, 2021).
The protestors rallying outside the building. Photo Credit: Steinbuch, 2021
Concerned parents wait to enter the school board meeting at the Loudoun County School Board Headquarters. Photo Credit: Hockstein, 2021
Counter-protestors in attendance, carrying the 2SLGBTQ+ Flag and signs that show support for CRT. Photo Credit: Hockstein, 2021
Outside the building, the crowd of parents were seen carrying signs into the building that read, “we the parents stand up” and “you don’t end racism by teaching it” (Wilder, 2021; Borter, 2021). The most prominent sign there was “education not indoctrination,” reflecting the comments made by Republican legislators that ‘left-leaning’ educators are indoctrinating the impressionable minds of students with lessons on race to shame students into awareness (Alfonseca, 2022). On the opposite side of the parking lot stood over 100 additional parents protesting in favour of CRT, waving the intersectional pride flag and carrying signs that said “Loudoun County’s worst nightmare: educated parents” and "banning the teaching of systemic racism is a perfect example of systemic racism" (Borter, 2021).
During the public comment section of the meeting, former Virginia State Senator Dick Black was heard yelling, “we are disgusted by your bigotry and your depravity” before a crowd of cheering parents (Borter, 2021). The parents then repeatedly ignored warnings made by Sheridan not to disrupt the meeting and a brief recess was called (Heim et al, 2021; Borter, 2021). The continuation of loud demonstrations prompted the school board to vote unanimously on ending the public comment section (Nashrulla, 2021).
Angry parents protest after the meeting was ended by the school board because of crowd interruptions. Photo Credit: Hockstein, 2021
Amy Jahr (center) sings The Star Spangled Banner with the crowd. Photo Credit: Hockstein, 2021
Ziegler states that the parents “violated the decorum of the meeting,” referencing the school board policy that requires members who want to speak to “refrain from vulgarity, obscenities, profanity or other […] breaches of respect for the dignity of the school board” (Browning, 2021). The crowd reacted by chanting “shame on you” and singing the Star Sprangled Banner, pointing their middle fingers at the departing board members (Oliphant et al, 2021). Sheridan reacted to the protest saying, “we will not back down from fighting for the rights of our students and continuing our focus on equity” (Nashrulla, 2021).
The crowd was declared by law enforcement as an unlawful assembly after they refused to leave and became violent (Nashrulla, 2021). Two people were consequently arrested – one person who remains anonymous received a minor injury, and the other person, identified as Scott Smith, physically threatened a parent who supported CRT and was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest (Heim et al, 2021; Linly, 2021). Fox News and other 'right-winged' news outlets were upset that only “51 voices were heard” of the over 250 attendees, arguing that the school board unfairly silenced parents and restricted them of their freedom of speech (Ruiz, 2021). Republican politician Ben Carson spoke to Fox News further condemning the school board as “trying to erase [the] racial progress Americans made [with CRT] and [this will] send us back in the other direction” (Dorman, 2021).
Opposingly, NBC news analysis Tyler Kingcade responded to the protest by saying there are larger goals at play where the Republican circle are looking to channel their frustrations that they lost to Joe Biden in the recent national election, riling people up at the local level before midterm elections (Gross, 2021). On Twitter, people posted their personal opinions, many applauding their efforts and echoing the concern that “CRT is anti-white” (Oliphant et al, 2021). While others, like Florida English teacher Vanessa Skipper observed the protest with a different kind of frustration: “it’s our job to present the factual parts of history, which are messy and dark, and allow the student to come to their own conclusions and think critically,” she says. (Oliphant et al, 2021). The parents’ disappointment in the outcome of the protest prompted them to file a lawsuit to the school board claiming their programs are violating their constitutional rights. This case was recently dismissed by the judge on January 22, 2022 (Grablick, 2022).
A man is detained by law enforcement after a fight broke out. Photo Credit: Hockstein, 2021
Gabriella Borter (2021), a Reuters journalist, attended the protest and documented the progression of events. Check out her Twitter Thread to see more protest coverage (Borter, 2021)
Header Photo Credit: Hockstein, 2021
Logo Credit (top left corner): "The raised fist symbol," n.d.