One of the leaders of the NAACP has been spotted outside a Virginia middle school denouncing opponents of critical race theory and say...
One of the leaders of the NAACP has been spotted outside a Virginia middle school denouncing opponents of critical race theory and saying 'let them die'.
NAACP Vice President Michelle Leete - who is also a member Virginia state PTA - gave a fiery speech to a crowd outside a school board meeting at Luther Jackson Middle School in Falls Church, Fairfax County.
And she ranted about a separate group of parents who were also at the school protesting over the teaching of CRT.
Leete can be heard saying: 'So let's meet and remain steadfast in speaking truth, tearing down double standards, and refuting double talk. Let's not allow any double downing on lies. Let's prepare our children for a world they deserve.
'Let's deny this off-key band of people that are anti-education, anti-teacher, anti-equity, anti-history, anti-racial reckoning, anti-opportunities, anti-help people, anti-diversity, anti-science, anti-change agent, anti-social justice, anti-health care, anti-worker, anti-LGBTQ+, anti-children, anti-health care, anti-worker, anti-environment, anti-admissions policy change, anti-inclusion, anti-live and let live – let them die!' Leete ranted to which she received a round of applause.
'Don't let these uncomfortable people deter us from our own march forward,' she went on.
The PTA said Friday night that Leete's words 'do not reflect the values' of the group, and said they would send members to 'sensitivity training' to learn about the 'impact of the words we use'.
Footage of Leete's speech was recorded by Parents Defending Education, a group which opposes the teaching of Critical Race Theory.
Michelle Leete, who is vice president of the NAACP's Fairfax chapter and a leader in the Virginia state PTA, made the comments while speaking to a group
As well as Vice President of her local NAACP chapter, Leete is also Vice President of Training at the Virginia state PTA and Vice President of Communications for the Fairfax County PTA.
So far, the Fairfax NAACP has not commented on the incident.
But Leete's colleagues on the Virginia PTA expressed concern over what they deemed to be 'a disturbing choice of words used by a board member during a public event.'
A statement from the PTA said: 'We believe in diversity, equity, and inclusion. However, we also know words have power and that it is important to understand the impact of our language.
'This summer, Virginia PTA board members will participate in sensitivity training to ensure that we remain mindful of our community and the impact of the words we use.'
Leete was addressing counter-protesters who were demonstrating against parents who had gathered outside the school board meeting for an event billed as a 'STOP CRT RALLY.'
The Virginia PTA tweeted expressed concern over what it deemed to be 'a disturbing choice of words used by a board member during a public event.'
Activist and NAACP Vice President of the Virginia chapter Michelle Leete riled up a crowd gathered outside a Fairfax County school board meeting referring to parents who oppose critical race theory to 'let them die'
Critical race theory has become a hot topic issue at schools around the country.
Republican lawmakers are continuing to push against what they deem to be 'un-American' ideas.
Mainly white parents have sided with conservative politicians claiming CRT teaches children to be divisive and to discriminate.
In Fairfax County, the teaching of the theory has been met with strong opposition.
A Public Opinion Strategies poll from early June found that critical race theory is viewed negatively by voters with a 50 percent negative to 42 percent positive margin.
Writing to the Washington Post, Leete claimed that her 'Let them die' comment was only ever meant to refer to 'the ideals that show a disregard and lack of support for our teachers who have a truly difficult job to do even without a pandemic.'
'I will certainly admit, it was ineloquently stated and with a pause for the applause, the timing was off.'
Six states have banned the critical race theory and another dozen are considering passing similar resolutions
'I listened, stunned, as Michelle Leete, an executive of the NAACP and the PTA, put a target on the backs of parents just because they have a different point of view,' said Asra Nomani, a PTA member and Indian immigrant to the Daily Wire.
Nomani shot the footage before posting it to Twitter.
'What we heard tonight was hate speech, pure and simple. It was shocking that anyone would cheer and applaud a call to violence… Ironically, her hateful, intolerant words are a perfect illustration of the divisive ideology of critical race theory in action. In the name of tolerance, it preaches intolerance and is a betrayal of all values of humanity and decency,' Nomani added.
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