A private parents’ “education-reform group” (Loudoun Parents for Education) from Loudoun County, Virginia, has said its members are being targeted for their opposition to the introduction of “critical race theory” in school curricula.
Ian Prior, a spokesman for the group, told WTOP News: “There was a solicitation by one of the members of this group to target people that had opposed the school’s commitment to critical race theory concepts.”
Loudoun parent Austin Levine testified on March 23 at a school meeting, telling the board, “I am on a list — not Santa’s list — but a list of enemies created by a group led by the marching orders of one of your colleagues. This list included names, places of work, where they lived and their perceived wrongs.”
Levine explained that personal information of parents who opposed the implementation of race theory into school curriculum was being shared by a group of “over 600 members” calling themselves “anti-racist parents of Loudoun County.”
Six out of nine school board members in Loudoun are part of this “anti-racist” group.
Levine testified further that school board member Beth Barts “orchestrated the attacks,” the New York Post reports. Prior said that the Loudoun Parents for Education are making an effort to have the board members involved in the attacks recalled from their positions.
Loudoun County Public Schools Interim Superintendent Scott Ziegler told WTOP News that the school district “has not adopted the critical race theory” into its curriculum. Ziegler said, “Social media rumors that staff members have been disciplined or fired for not adhering to the tenants of critical race theory or for refusing to teach this theory are not true,” and added that he does not believe people should be targeted for having “differing opinions.” Ziegler then stated he wants to make sure that “every student, employee and member of the community is treated in an equitable, respectful manner.”
The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating Facebook posts from the “anti-racist parents of Loudoun County” to determine if any crimes were committed.
