Fresno-area school trustee apologizes for racist comment. Next step: he must resign
At a time when race relations are at the forefront of Americans’ awareness with Black Lives Matter demonstrations, and in a city where Latino people are the largest ethnic group, it was astounding to see a Fresno-area school board member write the following Facebook post recently:
“If you don’t love the country you live in then go back to the country you or your ancestors came from.” He followed that up with an expletive.
While not specifying further what he was writing about, Central Unified School District Trustee Richard Atkins posted the comment in language that historically has been directed at Latino people.
Among those offended was Yesenia Z. Carrillo, president of the Central Unified board. She is of Mexican heritage and well understood the meaning behind “go back to your country.”
“I was appalled and disturbed by the comment,” she said Monday. “My reading of the message, as an American with Mexican heritage, it was offensive.”
She does not know if any of the Central Unified board members will call for Atkins to resign. But that would be the right thing for him to do. There is no place for a California educator to hold such racist views in 2020, and particularly not in a city where 48 percent of the residents are Latino.
Apology not enough
The posting was soon shared through social media. One of those reacting was Shay Williams, who is Black and a parent of a former Central student.
Wrote Williams: “As a parent of an African American and a former Central student and parent of student, I need someone to help me understand how a Central Unified Board member could post this. If this is how you feel on a personal level that is fine. However, when you represent minority students, parents, and the Central Community this is not okay.”
Atkins on Sunday followed up with an apology, saying the posting was insensitive. “ I did not consider how my words have such an impact on the Central Unified School District community. I can assure you that I meant no harm.”
Atkins had a terse reply to an email asking him Monday to explain why he wrote the post and whether he planned to resign: “No further comment at this time. Thank you.”
Anyone serving in a publicly elected position today knows their social media postings, if provocative, will become controversial. It is hard to read Atkins’ comment and think he meant no harm.
Tuesday night meeting
As scheduling would have it, the Central Unified board meets Tuesday night, June 23. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the meetings are conducted online.
Carrillo said the board could not take action on Atkins at the session because the agenda was finalized before the controversy developed. So the board could carry the issue to a future meeting.
The public can comment, however. Go to the board’s webpage for the agenda and directions on how to comment during the meeting.
Central Unified has nearly 16,000 students. Fifty-seven percent them are Latino. The home they have to return to is the one they leave every morning for school. It is Central Unified’s job to provide them with the best kindergarten-through-12th grade education it can. Racist comments have no place in that educational mission. Neither should Richard Atkins.
This story was originally published June 22, 2020 at 1:46 PM.
