Protesters at ‘Liberty Rally’ call for end of Fort Worth schools’ race equity programs
After more than a year of claiming that the Fort Worth school district is teaching critical race theory and indoctrinating students, a group of demonstrators Tuesday zeroed in on eliminating the district’s racial equity initiatives.
About 50 people gathered at a “Liberty Rally” and some spoke out during the school board meeting’s public comment, calling for the disbandment of the district’s Racial Equity Committee and the Division of Equity and Excellence.
Nate Schatzline, a Republican who’s running to replace Matt Krause in the state legislature, claimed that these programs perpetuate racism, a claim echoed by state Republicans.
“Has this program, that gets fed millions of dollars per year, has it actually helped minority students?” he said.
Schatzline said the money being used for the Division of Equity and Excellence could be used in other areas that he claims would better help students.
Schatzline is the founder of the For Liberty and Justice organization and podcast, which has extensively covered claims of critical race theory in local school districts and claims it is being disguised as racial equity.
In an email sent out to advertise the rally, For Liberty and Justice claimed the district, specifically the Racial Equity Committee, was spearheading political indoctrination.
The committee was formed in 2016 to make recommendations to the school board about how to implement practices that support students and staff of color. “Racial equity” as a concept is a process of eliminating systemic racial disparities.
Actions by the committee have led to reduced disparities in suspension rates and more hiring and retention of racially and ethnically diverse staff members, according to Star-Telegram archives.
The school board has voted to approve a District Racial and Ethnic Equity Policy in 2017 and a statement for Social Justice and the Dismantling of Racism in June 2020 with input from the committee, according to a district spokesperson.
The meeting saw a group of people who voiced their support for the district’s racial equity work.
Parent Mindia Whittier said she wants to see equity-based leadership and claimed the efforts to oppose the district are purely political.
“They accuse racial equity advocates of politicizing our schools when they are the ones asserting their political agendas,” she said. “... there’s no place for bullies or white supremacy in public education.”
Critical race theory is not explicitly taught in Texas public schools, including in Fort Worth’s school district curriculum, but protests have been a constant occurrence at Fort Worth’s school board since May 2021.
Opponents of the district have pointed to opportunities provided to teachers to attend an introductory Critical Race Theory (CRT) course as a professional development opportunity as evidence of CRT being taught in classrooms.
There’s also criticism because the racial equity committee’s meetings are not private following the resignation of a co-chair who was accused of doxxing and claimed she received racist and threatening messages.
No item pertaining to critical race theory was on the agenda during the board meeting. Of the district’s 82,000 students, 63% are Hispanic and 21% are Black.
