Many concerned parents showed up to speak out against Critical Race Theory at the Rochester school board meeting. Attendees were seen holding signs saying things like “Critical Race Theory = Race Pimps Monetizing Hate.”
— Jordan Shearer (@Jmanassa) July 13, 2021
The school board meeting had standing room only, after they added more chairs. The estimated number of attendees was over 50. According to the Post Bulletin, the Board Chair Jean Marvin began the school board meeting and then was interrupted by someone in the audience asking them to begin with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Full house tonight at the Edison Building pic.twitter.com/LfrRZTe0kx
— Jordan Shearer (@Jmanassa) July 13, 2021
Some school-aged children were also seen holding signs that read “We have freedom” and “U.S. Constitution,” while other signs in the room said “No BLM.”
The full school board meeting was not able to be watched online. The YouTube video titled “RPS School Board Meeting – 07/13/2021” was only eight minutes long.
According to an online viewer, after the audience started reciting the Lord’s Prayer, the livestream cut out.
The @RPS535 School Board live stream started up and then the crowd started an Our Father prayer… Live stream cut out. Now back.
— Andrew Link (@alinkphoto) July 13, 2021
In clips of the meeting that were obtained, one speaker can be heard saying, “We elected you to the school board to represent America.” An audience member chimed in, telling the board that if they don’t like it they can “go to another country and teach it.” The speaker took issue with the school’s seeming support of Black Lives Matter, after they posted the slogan on their website in April.
— Jordan Shearer (@Jmanassa) July 13, 2021
Another concerned person stood up to discuss masking in schools, only to be interrupted by the board members telling her that the time for public comment was over. The audience shouted down the board and told her to speak.
— Jordan Shearer (@Jmanassa) July 13, 2021
Another man brought his Dr. Suess books with him and talked about the immense polarization of America. He said that the ideas of Critical Race Theory silence opinions and that the ideas found within the theory are not “inclusion” or “tolerance.”
One of the most vocal members from the crowd before he had a chance at the podium himself pic.twitter.com/gFEFPY26h3
— Jordan Shearer (@Jmanassa) July 13, 2021
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Hayley Tschetter is a reporter with The Minnesota Sun | Star News Network and The College Fix. She graduated with a degree in Communications from the University of Northwestern-St. Paul. Send news tips to [email protected].
Photo “Rochester Public School District Board Members” by Rochester Public School District.
