Virginia PTA Official Resigns After “Let Them Die” Comment in Response to Critical Race Theory Criticism

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Michelle Leete, vice president of training for the Virginia PTA, has been asked to resign after making controversial comments in front of a crowd, according to a statement from the Virginia PTA. Leete is also a member of the board of directors of Fairfax, Virginia, NAACP.

The summer comments captured on video taken outside Luther Jackson Middle School, where a Fairfax County School Board meeting in Virginia was held Thursday night.

“So let’s meet and stay committed to telling the truth, eliminating double standards and refuting double talk,” Leete said in the video. “Let’s not allow the lies to be doubled. Let’s prepare our children for a world they deserve.

“Deny this quirky group of people who are anti-education, anti-teacher, anti-fairness, anti-history, anti-racial, anti-opportunity, anti-aid, anti-diversity, anti-platform, anti-science, agent anti-change, anti-social justice, anti-healthcare, anti-worker, anti-LGBTQ +, anti-child, anti-healthcare, anti-worker, anti-environment, anti-change in admissions policy, anti-inclusion, anti-live and let people live. Let them die. “

The crowd applauded after his comments, according to a copy of the video obtained by CNN.

The video was filmed by Asra Nomani, vice president of Parents Defending Education, which describes itself as “a national grassroots organization working to get our schools back from activists promoting harmful programs.”

Critical race theory has become a social and political lightning rod. This is how we got here
Leete provided a copy of his speech to the Washington Post on Friday which read “Let them (ideals) die,” according to the newspaper. According to the Post, Leete said her “Let Them Die” comment refer to “ideals that show contempt and lack of support for our teachers who have a really hard job to do even without a pandemic.”

CNN reached out to Leete, who said she and the NAACP would make a statement late Saturday night, although no statement has been provided so far.

The resignation is the latest salvo in the heated debate over Critical Race Theory, a theory for understanding the world that focuses on the role of systemic racism as the foundation of American society. The idea has met stiff resistance over the past year from conservatives who say the theory divides people of different races against each other and is inappropriate for K-12 schools.
At least two dozen states have banned critical race theory or introduced legislation banning its teaching in the classroom – though educators say the theory itself is typically not included in elementary school curricula. And supporters as well as critical race theorists insist the concept is mistaken for conversations about diversity and equality.

Protest at Virginia School Board Meeting

Harry Jackson, a parent who opposed critical race theory, called Leete’s comments “appalling and inappropriate.”

“Why would you ever want someone you don’t agree with death,” he told CNN.

This year, Jackson became the first African American to be elected president of the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology PTA, along with other board members who oppose the teaching of theory. criticism of race in schools.

He and others ran in part to make sure the theory wasn’t taught in their schools, he told CNN. But the state PTA is trying to undo its victory and that of other board members by saying they did not follow the proper procedure.

He was happy that the Virginia PTA had called for Leete’s resignation.

“It was a responsible gesture on the part of the Virgina PTA. Now I hope the Fairfax NAACP and the PTA will do the same,” he said.

Fairfax, Va., And neighboring Loudoun County have become hot spots in the ongoing critical debate over racial theory.

In Fairfax, diversity issues of all kinds at their top-rated Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology sparked an uproar when the school announced it was going to eliminate standardized testing requirements and application fees for incoming freshmen.

It was an initiative to promote more diversity in the district, but some parents opposed it, saying it would simply “lower” academic standards.

CNN’s Eric Levenson contributed to this report.



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