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Proud Boys go to School

Proud Boys have protested this NC school district. School board calls them ‘racist.’ [newsobserver.com]:

Proud Boys protest school actions

The Proud Boys group identifies itself as a brotherhood promoting Western chauvinism and opposing political correctness and anti-racial guilt, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center and other organizations that track hate groups.

However, its members have marched with alt-right and white supremacist groups and engaged in violence and intimidation, including at the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, and at the U.S. Capitol Building on Jan. 6.

Locally, the Proud Boys have patronized the Hot Tin Roof, a bar in downtown Hillsborough, The News & Observer previously reported [newsobserver.com].

According to the school board resolution, Proud Boys members have spoken at school board meetings and shown up at Orange High School, including at the Sept. 24 football game, to protest the district’s COVID-19 policies.

The resolution details emails from teachers and students who describe how unsafe they feel being around the Proud Boys. The comments include people charging that Proud Boys members shouted racist and homophobic slurs at students.

The resolution says that the school board “stands in solidarity with our Indigenous, Black, Brown, LGBTQ+ students, staff and community members and will continue to name harm and stand against hate in our community.”

The resolution calls for creating a “detailed action and communication plan for future incidents involving hate groups, including a text alert system.” It also calls for educating staff members and students on how to recognize extremist symbols; making sure students and staff know of counseling services after incidents involving hate groups; and how to address threats when hate groups are on or near school property.

Protesters back Mark Robinson

Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood says nothing criminal happened at the Sept. 24, protest. But he said that it got very heated.

Blackwood warned in Facebook post before Monday’s meeting [facebook.com] that there could be more protests at the board meeting. He said that the district has once again hired off-duty sheriff’s deputies to protect public safety, avoid disruption of the meeting, and maintain the free flow of traffic.

“Although I support people’s right to protest and demonstrate, I personally do not believe standing in the streets hurling hateful and intimidating insults at one another is a productive way to solve our issues,” Blackwood sad in his Facebook post. “I submit civil dialogue is a better model to present to students who learn best by example.

If adults can identify the issues, seek reasonable solutions, and communicate in a way that does not threaten public safety, we might actually get somewhere.”

Outside of the school, people protesting mask mandates and the district’s LGBTQ policies held up signs and argued with counter protesters. Numerous people wore “Educate don’t indoctrinate” shirts, while others shouted about their right to free speech.

Some protesters wore signs calling for Robinson, who is in his first term as lieutenant governor, to become governor.

Protesters gather outside the Orange County school board meeting in Hillsborough, NC, on Oct. 11, 2021, as board members consider a resolution opposing “incidents of hostile and racist behavior.” Lucille Sherman Playing politics or listening to children?

Most of the speakers at Monday’s meeting spoke in support of the resolution, saying it’s needed to protect students and school employees.

“You guys listened to the children,” said Latarndra Strong, a parent and organizer for Orange County’s Hate-Free Schools Coalition. “You listened to the pain in their hearts of students of color, of LGBTQ students, of students who would not have been accepted at that rally. You listened to the children who frequently who have no voice.”

Strong was joined by some other parents and students who spoke in favor of the resolution.

But Codie Snipes, an Orange High School senior, defended the Proud Boys, saying they were parents who were concerned about spectators not being allowed at athletic events. Snipes accused the school board of putting their political agenda ahead of the education of students.

“I suggest that you board members get your priorities straight and stop trying to force your political agenda down our throats,” Snipes said. “How about you getting an accurate representation of the student body instead of trying to divide us?”

Orange County school board resolution opposing Proud Boys [scribd.com] by Keung Hui [scribd.com] on Scribd

This story was originally published October 11, 2021 6:10 PM.

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