Critical race theory protesters target Fort Worth school district’s racial equity work
Residents packed the Fort Worth school board meeting on Tuesday over critical race theory, targeting the district’s racial equity work.
The meeting’s public comment section included more than 30 speakers and about 100 attendees, with the majority speaking against critical race theory and demanding that Superintendent Kent Scribner resign.
The meeting also saw counter-protesters, who voiced their support for the district’s racial equity work.
Anti-critical race theory protests have been a constant occurrence at Fort Worth’s school board since the meetings returned in person in May, and recent protesters have sharpened their focus on the work of the district’s Racial Equity Committee.
“Texas just passed a law that bans anything to do with CRT,” Michelle Sanchez told the board. “Follow the law and disband the equity committee.”
Critical race theory is a school of thought originating in the 1970s and ‘80s that analyzes how racism impacts the U.S. and its various systems.
In September, a bill that dictates how Texas teachers can talk about racism in the classroom became law.
Critical race theory is not explicitly taught in Texas public schools, including in Fort Worth’s school district curriculum.
However, protesters have pointed to work done by the district’s Racial Equity Committee and Division of Equity and Excellence, which provides teachers the opportunity to attend an introductory Critical Race Theory (CRT) course as a professional development opportunity, as evidence of the theory being taught in classrooms.
“We don’t want the attorney general or the state getting involved,” said Carlos Turcios, protest organizer and Fort Worth resident.
The meeting was the first regular board meeting since a pro-critical race theory parent sparked controversy by saying he had “over 1,000 soldiers ready to go... locked and loaded” at attendees of the Nov. 9 board meeting.
This is also the first board meeting after a racial equity committee co-chair resigned after being accused of doxxing and receiving racist and threatening messages.
Fort Worth resident Kerrie English said it isn’t possible to teach the history of the U.S. without teaching racism.
“Truth matters, she said. “If your children can love flawed people, and there are no kind of other people, then they can love a flawed country, and there’s no other kind of country.”
This story was originally published December 14, 2021 at 7:48 PM.
