Normally, when people on the far Left push critical race theory, they don’t get so explicit.
But at a Wednesday press conference, Denver Public Schools board member Tay Anderson and his ally said the quiet part out loud. Anderson, Colorado’s foremost Black Lives Matter figure, faces allegations that he sexually harassed or assaulted 62 students, among other sexual misconduct accusations. Anderson, 23, denies the allegations. The school board hired Investigations Law Group in April to conduct an independent investigation. While Anderson’s colleagues have shown astonishing cowardice, they’ve allowed the investigation to look into new allegations as they arose.
In early June, Anderson pledged to recuse himself until the investigation concludes, saying he wouldn’t get back to business until August. But on June 16, his attorney was already emailing school board lawyers asking for “all zoom links for any meetings, work sessions, and retreats for the remainder of the month” and indicating he may return sooner. On Wednesday, Anderson announced just that in an open letter and a triumphant press conference proclaiming his return: “I am going to finish my term until 2023.” The board shrugged.
The district’s investigation isn’t over. It’s not expected to end until mid-August. Any reasonable person would agree accusations involving sexual assault on children by a person in a position of trust should be thoroughly investigated. But since the investigation isn’t on Anderson’s timetable, he is not waiting anymore.
At his press conference, Anderson was flanked by his attorney and supporters, including close friend Hashim Coates. Coates, a 45-year-old Democratic campaign operative, has actively bullied and intimidated teenagers such as 18-year-old Gigi Gordon, a pro-BLM 2021 Denver public schools graduate who’s led protests against the school board.
On Facebook, Coates compared Gordon to the Columbine High School mass shooters and called her “the lil lying-ass racist.” On Wednesday, Anderson gave Coates the floor to go all-in on race-baiting, white supremacy, and critical race theory rhetoric.
“If an accusation was made against someone who was not black, we would not be here,” Coates asserted. He claimed the woman who publicly leveled the accusations concerning 62 students (mother Mary-Katherine Brooks Fleming, herself a Black Lives Matter donor and advocate) is a “racist white woman.” He blasted all but a few individuals in Denver’s black community for making “a conscious decision to remain silent in speaking out against the white supremacist apparatus that is moving rapidly through the black community.”
“White supremacy is active in the black community,” Coates said. “Even if it is a black organization such as BLM5280 (the first to level sexual assault allegations against Anderson in March) or other black leaders …sellouts are nothing new to our community and struggle.”
When a reporter questioned whether he was “accusing not only a white woman of being racist but also a black organization of being anti-black,” Coates got testy.
“This right now is an example of how we need to do a better job at learning American history and taking that thing that people seem to be afraid of, such as critical race theory, into consideration,” he said. “I challenge anyone — you, especially, since you asked the question, but I understand you might be doing it for viewers. Study racism.”
Anderson echoed Coates: “We must fight back to the white supremacist narratives that have arisen and that are fighting against critical race theory.” When asked what he would say to people “who actually want to try to do better and learn,” Anderson scoffed. “I’m not going to waste my free black labor educating the public … about my definition of racism,” he said. “I’m going to encourage anybody that wants to know the answer to that question, do your homework about how racism works in our country.”
An elected school board member advocates teaching critical race theory yet refuses to explain what he even believes about redressing racism. All while his friend plays the white supremacy card and accuses fellow black Coloradans of being “sellouts.”
Denver students and families deserve far better.
Jimmy Sengenberger is the host of Jimmy at the Crossroads, a web show in partnership with the Washington Examiner that focuses on the intersection of politics and economics, as well as The Jimmy Sengenberger Show on Denver’s News/Talk 710 KNUS.
