Megyn Kelly slams school’s treatment of employees over false racism claims: ‘We’re ruining lives’

Kelly was responding to a New York Times article shared by Jodi Shaw, a former Smith College employee who resigned from the school over claims it is a “racially hostile workplace.”

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The article recounts the events of a 2018 incident in which a black student, Oumou Kanoute, accused multiple Smith College employees of racism after she was reported for eating lunch in an area of a dormitory that was currently closed for the summer.

The article reports that Kanoute took to Facebook to post about the incident shortly after, saying she was approached by a campus police officer carrying a “lethal weapon” and that the ordeal was part of a pattern of racial harassment she had faced at the school.

“All I did was be Black,” Kanoute said in the post. “It’s outrageous that some people question my being at Smith College, and my existence overall as a woman of color.”

The alleged racist incident drew an immediate response from the school, with school president Kathleen McCartney issuing an emotional apology and immediately placing a janitor who reported Kanoute on paid leave.

The story drew national outrage, with multiple media outlets reporting on the incident. The American Civil Liberties Union jumped in to represent the student, saying she was profiled for “eating while black.”

But an investigation concluded three months later found no evidence that any employees acted with racial bias against Kanoute. Instead, the janitor who reported her to campus security was earlier encouraged to report anyone in the area due to it being closed to students for the summer. The campus security officer who arrived was unarmed and had a polite conversation with the student, though Kanoute informed the officer the encounter had made her uncomfortable.

Kanoute nevertheless accused those involved in the incident of racial bias against her, even posting a picture of a dorm cafeteria employee on Facebook and falsely accusing her of being the one who reported her to campus security. The employee has since been harassed by activists at her home and online who have left messages accusing her of racism.

Blair said that she still receives harassing messages to this day, and even when trying to apply for other jobs, has been asked about the racist incident she was not involved in.

“What do I do?” she asked. “When does this racist label go away?”

Despite the investigation finding no evidence to collaborate Kanoute’s claims, Smith College began introducing training to the school’s working-class employees that explored their implicit bias and white privilege.

The constant bombardment of social justice messaging finally became too much for Shaw, who ended up resigning from her positions at the school.

“Stop demanding that I admit to white privilege and work on my so-called implicit bias as a condition of my continued employment,” Shaw said of the training.

Some faculty at the school have also bemoaned the changes, complaining that the school has turned its focus almost exclusively to racial justice issues.

James Miller, a conservative economics professor at the college, believes there is little opportunity to dissent to the school’s new direction.

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“My perception is that if you’re on the wrong side of issues of identity politics, you’re not just mistaken. You’re evil,” Miller said.

The incident sparked others to voice outrage on the matter.

Smith College did not immediately respond to the Washington Examiner’s request for comment.