Statement of the Howard County Board of Education on the Events in Charlottesville, Virginia

August 18th, 2017

Like many of you, we were shocked and outraged by the racism and antisemitism displayed by the white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia last weekend that resulted in numerous injuries and loss of life. Our thoughts are with the family of the young woman, Heather Heyer, who died standing up against hatred and bigotry and with the families of the two state troopers who also tragically lost their lives on Saturday.

As Board of Education members, we recognize the importance of free speech. However, when that speech becomes grounded in hate and racism that may lead to fear, intimidation, bullying, or physical harm, it ceases to uphold the tenets of freedom. And it jeopardizes the safe, supportive and engaging school climate we strive to provide for our children and communities. We will not tolerate that kind of hatred or bigotry in our school system community.

We realize that events like Charlottesville can have a chilling impact on our students, families and staff. Please know, that my fellow Board of Education members and I are unequivocally committed to providing a safe, engaging and supportive educational climate and to ensuring that the safety and rights of our diverse students and staff are protected.

One of the toughest challenges as parents, educators and community leaders is how we engage with our children after events like these. While Charlottesville offers us a teachable moment, we know that it is not an easy conversation to have. We are encouraged that staff is working to make sure that teachers are prepared by the first day of school to address hard questions from students and facilitate dialogue. We were proud to see Dr. Martirano’s messages to the community and staff yesterday and encourage everyone to take advantage of the resources provided. These conversations can’t just happen in our schools. They also have to take place in our homes, in our community centers, and yes, even in our social gatherings.

The Howard County Board of Education remains committed to the values of freedom, liberty and justice for all and to partnering with students, families and civic leaders to foster an open, safe and loving environment that can bring our communities together.