You might have thought you were attended a 1960s civil rights protest instead of a Wake County school board meeting on Tuesday.
As noted in today's article, critics of the community-based school assignment resolution steeped their language and actions around themes that wouldn't have been out of place for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to have used.
The Rev. William Barber, president of the state NAACP, led many in the audience in singing "We Shall Overcome" during the meeting. Once the board recessed after the vote on the resolution, Barber led the crowd in "Don't Let Nobody Turn You 'Round," another civil rights anthem.
The crowd chanted "we're not going anywhere" and "never again."
"They didn't count on this kind of unity," Barber told the crowd and assembled media. "This isn't an NAACP issue, it's a community issue!"
Barber again reiterated the threat of taking legal action against the board for resegregating schools.
During the public comment section, retired Wake principal Samuel Greene referred to George Wallace, the Alabama governor and presidential candidate who loudly championed segregation during the 1960s.
“In the words of George Wallace, do you want your legacy to be segregation now, segregation forever?” said Greene, who had applied for the school board vacancy that was filled by Keith Sutton.
You can expect it to be even more emotional when the board holds the second vote on the resolution, probably on March 23.
"It's insulting to all the people who actually lived in the horrendous segregated schools to compare that to letting people simply stay in their neighborhoods," said Dallas Woodhouse, state director of the conservative Americans for Prosperity. "The idea that this is the battle of the '60s is ridiculous."
New school board member John Tedesco, who co-wrote the resolution, said critics were trying to "sensationalize" things and "rile people up" by using the 1960s civil rights language.
UPDATE
Click here for open letter that Barber sent Tuesday to Wake schoo board chairman Ron Margiotta.
Comments
How did I get dragged into
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 18:15 — woodstockHow did I get dragged into this? I never commented on what Margiotta said.
The emotions were high yesterday and things got unruly. I thought considering everything Margiotta and the other new BoE members showed amazing self restraint in not responding to the abuse some folks dished out as it was extremely disrespectful. In fact, Margiotta deserves accolades for the restaint he showed to Gatewood. Should he have made the animals comment? It was probably better if he didn't, but he does not deserve to be beat up over it and it should be a non issue considering eveything that happened.
The only person that went beyond the pale and deserves anything he gets is Gatewood. His vile comments were only meant to insult and inflame. That is unacceptable and in my opinion he should have been escorted out and asked not to return.
It would be a big deal if a
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 10:19 — user12345It would be a big deal if a Democrat had said it but people have come to expect those remarks from Republicans.
So, everyone agrees with
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 11:09 — user12345So, everyone agrees with Ron? Citizens are animals.
User
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 12:24 — Voice_of_Reason_Technically, all of us are animals. We all have animal instincts imprinted in our mind. Since you are religious, I would add what separates us from animals is that we have a conscience. We also have been civilized and hopefully been taught manners. That some people refuse to act in a civilized manner indicates that those instincts are taking hold. The new school board has been only been doing what they campaigned on. They have not been insulting to anyone. I don't think Ron was right to say what he did, but he also didn't mean to be heard. Haven't you ever had thoughts that you didn't verbalize about people? I don't think this slip of the tongue under his breath speaking of bad behaviour rises to the level of impeachment (as some wish could happen). I have heard the words idiots, neanderthals, thugs, Nazis, Fascists, and many other choice words come out of politician's mouths in Washington recently, I think that is much worse than what Ron said metaphorically.
VOR .. something I practice
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 16:18 — user12345VOR .. something I practice and teach my children is that if you think it, it will eventually come out of your mouth ... so, I don't care he said it but I do care that he thought it ... I am also disappointed with all the people defending him because someone somewhere else did it too ... truly, if one of the minority had said that, the Republican machine would have blown it out to every media outlet ...
Wel...
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 12:58 — supportwcpssI guess that depends on what Ron's comments really meant...?
But we won't know...
Citizen who act rude and boo
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 11:23 — starsonoursCitizens who act rude and boo other speakers are animals! Be they Democrat, Republican, Independent or Unafiliated.
All time new low!
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 15:12 — DrActualFactualLast night's meeting was punctuated by bad behavior on all sides. Keung, I think this blog has reached an all-time New low when people start commenting on others behavior/demeanor in an identity specific way. It was hard for me to draw a line in the column here to say where the posters crossed the lines of reason so I just picked a random spot. WE CAN ALL DO BETTER AND SHOULD STOP THIS RUDENESS NOW. Please Mr. Hui in the name of decency caution your posters. Remember everyone that these comments sometimes get copied over onto other sites. This is not how we would want to be remembered.
I'm trying to avoid having
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 15:32 — KeungHui (author)I'm trying to avoid having to give daily be nice and polite messages. Just try to keep things civil here to avoid driving off folks who don't like the tone.
What about citizens who
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 12:05 — woodstockWhat about citizens who applaud people who call those who disagree with them "white racists" or "criminals" Are they "animals?"
Dallas Woodhouse would be
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 11:59 — itsybitsyspiderDallas Woodhouse would be included then as the first animal out the cage. He can clearly be heard loudly booing 3 times in response to Mr. Sutton's request to allow extended time to a past BOE member and 3 term chair. Mr. Woodhouse was extremely disruptive in the audience by not only booing but to those sitting around him. He can be seen sitting behind and to the right of the podium and can be heard booing on WRAL part 7 13:14-17. And yes, it was indeed Mr. Woodhouse.
Booing is OK in politics
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 12:38 — Voice_of_Reason_It happens on the floor of our US House and Senate all the time. If Mr. Woodhouse was singularly disruptive, the chair should of had him thrown out if he was warned. The Chair can set the tone of a meeting. Mr. Margiotta allowed lively discourse on both sides, no matter what he said under his breath.
Will have to check out the
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 12:32 — shank56Will have to check out the booing. I only noticed him clipping/knawing his fingernails with his teeth.
Yes
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 13:04 — duvalHe really needs to watch himself on tape.
I am sure he has no nails left after 10 hours of gnawing away, only to break from this activity to make faces and squirm when he disagreed with the speakers, whom were plentiful.
At one point I thought he would blow a gasket.
Perhaps at the next meeting he will choose a seat a bit further away so as to be off camera.
I watched as he came into
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 13:26 — itsybitsyspiderI watched as he came into the room. It "appeared" as though he methodically chose his seat for the camera. When friends, including Claude Pope, joined him, he rose to allow them to sit inside the row so that he could keep his end row seat.
So you think it is
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 11:28 — shank56So you think it is appropriate and respectful for the Wake COunty Board of Education Chair (or any public official) to react and refer to its citizens in this way?
No, it was not appropriate
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 11:43 — Eric_BNo, it was not appropriate or respectful for Mr. Margiotta to refer to members of the audience as "animals being let out of their cages." I think everyone knows that.
It also was not appropriate to call the board members "white racists" or for the crowd to boo or shout down any of the speakers.
Nor
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 12:55 — supportwcpssWas it appropriate for me to be accosted at a CEM meetings a few years back when I spoke in support of the board.
But I was.
As public figures, Ron and the other Board members are held to a higher standard. But that does not excuse the behavior of citizens.
With or without cages
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 11:15 — g88ky07I would say that is a fair assessment of how many of the fear mongers and "R" word gang folks acted yesterday. Absolutely.
Ron said this before the
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 11:17 — shank56Ron said this before the " R" word arose- at least from Gatewood.
Dallas Woodhouse
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 12:02 — TKDMomI was at the meeting last night and sat near Dallas Woodhouse. He was the first to to Boo. He Booed Mr. Sutton. He was also talking with his friends - sitting beside him and across the aisle - so loud that we could not hear. This went on from the time he arrived until the 6 pm break when we ask him to be respectful of others.
Before Mr. Woodhouse arrived, one of his friends that he was taling with during the meeting - shouted at the lady accross the aisle from him that she was "Pure Evil". It was audible several aisles away.
What would Mr. Margiotta think of this?
I can't speak to other
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 16:08 — jenmanI can't speak to other behavior by Woodhouse, but I have a different view of him booing Sutton. Sutton asked that some man be able to go over the time limit because he was a former board member. Many people in the audience applauded and cheered to show their approval of Sutton's suggestion. People who opposed this booed. I'm not sure what other sound/noise they should have made to express their opinion. Of course, NOBODY should be cheering or booing in this instance but obviously people aren't behaving as they should because emotions are high.
I sat behind a mother and daughter (I think that was their relationship) who were two of the rudest and most blatantly disrepectful people I have seen at any of these meetings. Things are crazy right now and there are people on both 'sides' behaving inappropriately. We're just more likely to notice the ones we disagree with. ;-)
I watched that portion
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 16:19 — shank56I watched that portion today. Dr. John Gilbert served on the WCPSS for 16 years and as chair for 3 terms. My guess is that he came in with his 3 minutes speech, but Ron limited everone to 2 minutes (that is fair based on the number of speakers).
Sutton asked Ron that Gilbert be given extra time out of courtesy for his past service, AND reminding Ron that when the mayor of Rolesville/ Apex/ Wake Forest (one of those ?) addressed the BOE recently, Ron let him exceed the time limit.
Ron shut Sutton out immediately.
I think it was the mayor of
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 16:25 — jenmanI think it was the mayor of Apex. I know that it was at one of the CEMs, maybe Panther Creek. But it was at a meeting that was specifically designed for public comment. The BOE meeting is different from that. I can see Sutton's point but I saw Ron's as well. Either way somebody would be angry. If he let Gilbert speak for longer than 2 minutes then should he have let anybody else who held an office do so to? There was a former super from another district who spoke, former teachers, Barber and probably other community leaders.
Like I said, I can see Sutton's point of view on this one, I just don't think that Ron was unreasonable to deny it. I think that Ron handles the public comment time pretty well considering how contentious it is.
Bridges and divides
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 13:40 — SDR256Yep. What we saw last night was partisan politics at its worst. Balkanization, stratifying, fragmenting language and actions - from many in the audience. Those who were the worst offenders were the most extreme examples of both poles of the political spectrum. It was painful to watch. And depressing because I think it advanced the situation of our children forward NIL.
I would like to point out that one of only a handful of speakers who expressed a position of understanding and dialog was Kristen Stocking, one of the leaders of WSCA. I hope the debilitating emotional storms will pass, and that the next chapter will be one of dialog, bridge building and solutions bearing fruit.
The real question is:
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 12:32 — Voice_of_Reason_Did Mr. Margiotta say anything about it? What he thinks about it is his business alone. I didn't know we have "thought police" now. I think a lot of people have been childish on both sides. If one side does it, their are many who respond likewise from the other side. Did we see any meaningful debate there or a just a stage show for the press?
What party are Reid and Biden, again?
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 11:06 — fiestamomHmm, Harry Reid says Obama speaks with a Negro dialect, in 2008, Joe Biden called Obama "clean and articulate black guy". Joe Biden made a comment about Indians who own 7-11's.
The longest serving Senator, Robert Byrd is a former member of the Ku Klux Klan. He was the Grand Kleagle. Al Gore's dad voted against the Civil Rights Act.
What party do they belong to?
Becareful User doesnt like
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 11:26 — starsonoursBecareful User doesnt like it when facts cloud his vision of the world
Yeh I Bet You Think!
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 10:32 — JanisTangoYeh..and I bet Harry Reid was just being flattering to the President by his comments. Get real user12345 and stop trying to flame the fire!
Are you kidding me USER1234
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 10:45 — Voice_of_Reason_The third person in line for the presidency, a Democrat, called the honest hardworking citizens in the Tea Party movement Nazis, and a lot of other names. She was hailed by the main stream media for saying this despite all she was saying was a bald faced lie. She's still holding her seat in office. It's funny that she has no idea what a Nazi is, do you? BTW they are not Conservative.
A DEMOCRAT can say and do almost anything and get away with it. The main stream press is in their pocket.
What happenned to getting the facts and thinking for your self?
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 17:16 — CaryiteNancy Pelosi did not call anyone Nazis. She said some Tea Partyers were, "carrying swastikas and symbols like that to a town meeting on healthcare." How is reporting of actual events calling someone a Nazi? What happenned to gathering the facts and thinking for yourself?
AMEN Voice_Of_Reason
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 12:57 — upinbooneBingo. The establishment media has propped up leftist lunacy for 60 years. But the paradigm has changed thanks to the tea partiers. The ugly epithets that used to work on all of us (racist, bigot, nazi, etc) no longer have power for one reason - now we know who the true racists, bigots, haters, and intolerant ones really are. (Look at tax-supported colleges' efforts to stifle the 1st Amendment for starters - theFIRE.org has enumerated incidents across the country). Liberals haven't figured out that we conservatives, both D's and R's, surround and outnumber them 4 to 1. We are taking our newly discovered power to them at the ballot box (God willing) and every other venue we choose. We stood silent for decades while they incrementally destroyed our precious Constitutional Republic. No more. Never again.
random thoughts
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 09:20 — red_balloonDesignate a school in each district/ zone as the SES diversity school. Make it applicant based and let those who cherish SES diversity above education congregate there. The academics at these schools should be standard fare.
Magnet based offerings (or scaled back programs if Fed funding is lost) should be achievement based and offered within each zone/ district to build true schools of excellence. Admission criteria should be achievement based and give priority to students from within a zone/ district before opening it up to gifted students from other zones/ districts.
With the above approach, there will be schools that cater to SES diversity advocates, schools that challenge the gifted, and the regular set of schools. In some ways, the approach equates to building multiple school systems within WCPSS with bridges between zones/ districts through common offerings for cost containment and whatever else makes sense in delivering high quality education in a fiscally prudent manner and without regard to social engineering.
Within the regular set of schools, performance metrics and incentives in the high poverty schools should be different from the affluent schools. Likewise, disciplinary methods, teacher support mechanisms, and even graduation objectives (high school diploma vs. vocational certs) should be different between schools.
Now, this is ironic!
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 09:02 — milly75Mr. Barber lives in Durham County - This is a direct quote from the Durham County Public Schools website:
"One of the unique aspects of the Durham Public Schools System is where the students attend school. Unlike other schools in the region, Durham does not bus students across town. The school district believes in neighborhood schools where students are given the opportunity to learn where they live. Parents are, however, given many choices within the district, with a liberal transfer policy in place. "
Exactly what I was
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 15:57 — jenmanExactly what I was thinking. When is Barber going to demand that every other district in the state start busing for diversity? Very interesting info from the website--thanks for posting it.
here is a link to the zone
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 10:08 — JSBinNChere is a link to the zone plan in Durham... yr's, magnets, etc.
...http://www.ci.durham.nc.us/departments/gis/schools/e_schools.cfm
and here is a link to the FAQ about choice schools... there is nothing in here about SES as criteria. Is it a true lottery over in DPS?
...http://choice.dpsnc.net/faqs