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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsSchool Board Member Blames Her Racist Facebook Posts on Michelle Obama, NFL Protesters
Michael Harriot
Today 12:39pm
After being called out for a collection of racist social media posts echoing the sentiments of noted Twitter political pundit Roseanne Barr, a board member of Alabamas second-largest school district passionately explained herself by citing Michelle Obamas unpatriotic hate for America and kneeling NFL players insistence on disrespecting the troops.
Donna Pike, a member of the Jefferson County School Board, recently shared a meme about Obama-administration senior adviser Valerie Jarrett, invoking the sentiments of the now infamous tweet by noted conspiracy theorist, and Trump supporter, Barr calling Jarrett a Muslim, born in Iran.
Local activist Carlos Chaverst came to the school board meeting after discovering the June 1 post and similar posts on Pikes Facebook page, AL.com reports. Pike, a Republican who has been trying to make Jefferson County Schools great since 2016, openly admits that she supports Barr. However, to be fair, if the couple played by Barr and John Goodman actually had a daughter, sent the girl to Alabama and fed it a carbohydrate-rich diet of Wonder Bread and racism, it would eventually look like Pike, a rotund, decrepit white woman full of unapologetic hate.
Shes not a Muslim; shes an American, Chaverst told the members of the board about Jarrett. But your school board member stands with Roseanne. Chaverst went on to show other racist-adjacent memes posted by Pike, including one of Michelle Obama refusing to salute the flag. Pike shooed Chaverst away with her hand as he explained: Shes a racist, and if you stand with her, guess that makes you one, too. Everybody in this room, you have an obligation to stand up for these children and do whats right. She is an elected official! I have a parent here who has children in Jefferson County Schools that is getting ready to pull her kids out of the school system because of you, Miss Donna Pike. And you dont care!
After Chaversts impassioned plea, the Barr-like white woman who, thankfully, covered her elbows, which I assume resemble albino raisins, explained herself to her fellow board members:
I shared it, and Im not sorry I did, said Pike. And I meant it because it shows hypocrisy in our country. Some people can get away with it and some people cant. It was not racist. Apparently unaware that first lady is neither an elected nor an appointed position, Pike went on to say that she sympathized with Barr because if Barrs tweet was offensive, then others should be fired, too.
more
https://www.theroot.com/school-board-member-blames-her-racist-facebook-posts-on-1826833759
jayschool2013
(2,312 posts)dameatball
(7,398 posts)But I liked the imagery....
GaryCnf
(1,399 posts)the way Michael writes.
I bet he would be a favorite here.