Jordan Peterson blasts COVID vaccine mandates: 'F***ing leave me alone!'



Famed psychologist and author Jordan Peterson blasted the government's hysteria over COVID-19 vaccines.

What are the details?

In an interview with Dave Rubin, Peterson said that he believes the U.S. is quickly moving to a state of totalitarianism due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

"The thing that surprised me the most, probably, was how rapidly we stampeded to imitate a totalitarian state in the immediate aftermath of the release of COVID," he said. "You know, if you think it through a little bit, no one really knew how serious the virus was going to be, and so it was an unknown threat. And so you could imagine a herd of animals or a school of fish, for that matter, because this kind of phenomena is universal throughout the animal kingdom."

He continued, "The cost of overreacting to a threat is generally minimal compared to under-reacting to a real threat. Overreacting to a hypothetical threat is cheap compared to under-reacting to an actual threat, because if you under-react, you could die, whereas if you overreact, you generally just get fired for a minute."

Peterson then explained that a panicky herd mentality is often the biggest threat to humanity.

"So a herd will stampede because the most neurotic member of the herd jumps first, and then they'll instantly follow them," he said. "And that's kind of what we did in the early stages of the pandemic. The Chinese acted first — now, unfortunately they are a totalitarian state — and we all followed. And that's excusable in some sense because we didn't know what sort of threat we were facing."

Peterson added that what soon followed could only be chalked up to what he said is a breakdown of rights.

"My father isn't vaccinated; he decided not to, partly because they were telling him he had to," he explained. "In any case, it's extraordinarily annoying to see this happening, and to then find out that there's nothing behind it except the most instrumental and cowardly random polling is extremely disheartening and also maddening and also angering; all of those things at once."

Peterson later lamented vaccine mandates.

"You know, Canadians who aren't vaccinated right now cannot leave the country," he snapped. "Like, what the hell? Why is that? And I'm — look, I got vaccinated, and people took me to task for that, and I thought, 'All right, I'll get the damn vaccine.' Here's the deal, guys: I'll get the vaccine; you f***ing leave me alone!"

“Did that work? No. So, stupid me, you know?" he groused. “That's how I feel about it. It's like, well, now I have to get tested for COVID when I come back into Canada. I have to get tested before I leave Canada. Now, that might be — the latter issue, that's an issue with the Americans, so that's outside of the Canadian purview, but the restrictions to get back into Canada are even more stringent. It's like, why did I get the vaccine then if you're not going to leave me alone?"

Content warning: rough language:

pic.twitter.com/A256pcIw87

— Sarah Taylor (@thesarahdtaylor) 1636649161

Fictional movie murderer Michael Myers accused of being homophobic in new 'Halloween' movie



Michael Myers, the central fictional figure of the "Halloween" movie franchise, is homophobic, according to certain corners of social media.

What are the details?

Myers, or "The Shape," has been accused of homophobia after killing a same-sex couple in the newest "Halloween" installment, 2021's "Halloween Kills."

TMZ on Wednesday reported, "This is actually a thing ... the latest iteration of the masked madman is being accused by some Twitter truthers of being homophobic for offing a same-sex couple in the new 'Halloween Kills' movie ... which just came out about a week or so ago."

In the film, Myers executes a gay couple inside their home — which used to belong to Myers' family — and eventually lays their bodies next to one another on the ground. One of the men is sitting upright against a bookshelf while another lies on his back, one knee raised, with his hands folded over his stomach and his head on his dead partner's knee.

As TMZ pointed out, "Dude literally kills everyone in his path — black people, gay people, young and old ... and any gender."

What has been the response?

One clearly ruffled social user tweeted, "Michael Myers is homophobic[.]"

Michael Myers is homophobic #HalloweenKills https://t.co/dVeO4Hvqh5

— ECDD 512 (@isaelvalen) 1634445662.0

TMZ reported that another user wrote, "HALLOWEEN KILLS WAS SO GOOD BUT WHY DID MICHAEL HAVE TO KILL THE ONE GAY COUPLE... MICHAEL MYERS IS HOMOPHOBIC CONFIRMED."

WeGotThisCovered reported that another user quipped, "[A]ll i got from the new halloween movie is that michael myers is homophobic[.]"

Another added, "Can't believe Michael Myers is homophobic #cancelled."

"Watched Halloween Kills last night and y'all horror gays lied to me I didn't know Michael Myers was homophobic," another user noted, according to the outlet.

"Michael Myers is a racist homophobic murderer. No respect for him now," another user complained.

Another user marveled, "[T]he juxtaposition of michael myers killing a gay couple and chucky [the evil doll] talking about his genderfluid child in the same week is just insane[.]"

The TMZ report added, "While many appreciated the representation, others appear to have been offended by these two guys being among the body count. There've also been a few articles and op-eds written on the matter — and despite most who acknowledge it as silly ... some are pointing out 'The Shape' may, in fact, not be as progressive as some of his counterparts."

What else?

It seems fair to point out that social media wasn't paying much attention to what was happening in the film before circulating reports that the Myers character is gay — considering the fact that if you look closely at the photo behind the slain gay couple, it is a decidedly benign mirror image to the grisly scene taking place on the floor immediately below it.

#MichaelMyers is not homophobic. #HalloweenKills https://t.co/dMvvNhKhF3

— Sarah Taylor (@thesarahdtaylor) 1635355758.0

Anything else to know?

"Halloween" star Jamie Lee Curtis, who starred in both the 1978 original film and some of its successive films, recently spoke out about the gory horror flick and said that portions of the film mirror Jan. 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol.

She explained that the new film is "about rage, about a mob of angry people who don't trust the government, who don't trust the police, who don't trust the authorities to get the job done."

"They're going to do the job themselves," she added.

(Content warning: Graphic violence, gore):

Halloween Kills - Official Trailerwww.youtube.com

Social media lambastes woke teacher for resurfaced viral video in which he complains that making children behave in class is 'white supremacy'



Social media users are calling for a Virginia high school teacher to be fired after a May video resurfaced showing the teacher saying that making children behave in class is akin to "white supremacy."

What are the details?

According to the New York Post, Josh Thompson — an English teacher at Blacksburg High School in Blacksburg, Virginia — raised eyebrows and ruffled feathers after a since-deleted TikTok video of him from May began making rounds on the internet this week.

In the video, Thompson blasted the district's Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports program — which is used to help reduce disruptive behaviors in the classroom — by saying that the notion is the very "definition of white supremacy."

Calling the techniques "white supremacy with a hug," Thompson said, “It's things like making sure that you're following directions, and making sure that you're sitting quietly, and you are in your seat — and all these things that come from white culture."

He continued, "The idea of just sitting quiet and being told stuff and taking things in in a passive stance, is not a thing that's in many cultures. So if we're positively enforcing these behaviors, we are by extension positively enforcing elements of white culture."

Such practices keep "whiteness at the center — which is the definition of 'white supremacy,'" he added.

The Post reported that as of Wednesday morning, Thompson's social presence appears to have been set to private.

What did people say in response?

According to the outlet, conservative author Brigitte Gabriel shared the clip, which she captioned, "FIRE this teacher."

Others, the Post noted, said that Thompson was the "perfect poster boy for woke," while another another social media user added, "So you're telling me when I was in school and not listening, I was fighting racism? Wait until my mom hears this!"

One user, who identified herself as a black school teacher, pointed out that Thompson's remarks were divisive to say the least.

She wrote, "I'm a black teacher. Any notion that behaving and following directions are inherently white traits disgusts me. It highlights the bigotry of low expectations that permeates the Education system. Black and brown students are capable and should not be held to separate standards."

Another user chimed in, "Implying minorities can't be held to the same standard as the majority because of their color is racism."

"Assuming that only the white culture shares the value of being polite and respectful is blatant racism," one user insisted. "Besides, this behavior while learning is way more prevalent in Asian countries than in Occidental ones."

Yet another user asked, "Has this guy actually been in classrooms in Africa, India, Latin America, etc? I have. If anything, we are way more lax in enforcing classroom behavioral issues than other cultures. The norm in most cultures is still 'sit quietly and listen.'"

Has the district spoken out?

A spokesperson for the Montgomery County School District told Fox News that while it is certainly "proud" of its PBIS program, it also supports Thompson's right to freely speak on the topic.

"A teacher is entitled to their personal belief regarding any division program," the statement read, noting that "the statements made by this teacher do not reflect our PBIS program or the behavioral expectations that we have of students in our schools."

The statement added, "MCPS has used PBIS in our schools for eight years. We are proud of our PBIS work. This work helps create a standard for social-emotional learning and behavior expectations in the school building."

Teacher says efforts to encourage kids’ good behavior is “white supremacy.” https://t.co/4QNBIafTzv

— Sarah Taylor (@thesarahdtaylor) 1631733009.0

Viral video: Trans man gives birth to baby — and trans woman unsuccessfully tries to nurse the child



A transgender couple has gone viral for their decidedly unconventional family in which the trans man — or biological female — gave birth to their child, while the trans woman — a biological male — attempted to nurse the baby.

What are the details?

The trans woman — whose name is Petrona and who identifies as the child's mother despite not birthing the child — can be seen in a now-viral video unsuccessfully attempting to breastfeed the couple's newborn baby.

The video, a clip from Facebook's "9 Months with Courteney Cox," shows Petrona lying in bed with transgender male Ahanu — who identifies as the child's father despite giving birth to the child — and the couple's child shortly after birth.

Both Ahanu and Petrona are topless in the video, and Ahanu's elective mastectomy scars are visible alongside a postpartum stomach as Petrona fruitlessly tries to breastfeed the couple's child.

In the clip, Ahanu asks Petrona, "Are they getting any milk?"

"They" in this case is in reference to the baby, whose gender has not been identified at the time of this reporting.

Petrona responds, "The baby has been able to latch, but I've not been able to produce any milk. That's OK, because I'm going to supplement the feeding with formula so that my baby is still getting the nutrients that they need, but I'm still feeling hopeful."

In the same episode, Ahanu described a disturbing experience with the "very violent" while an adolescent.

"[G]rowing up, I had a gender assigned to me and it caused me a lot of unnecessary trauma."

Petrona agreed and said that her family's minds were "filled with Christian supremacy."

"They're stuck," Petrona complained. "There's no escape. They're trapped, and to me, that's a really sad ... world."

Cox's Emmy-nominated series followed the parents through the pregnancy and continues on as the parents try to obtain a non-gendered birth certificate for their newborn baby.

"I'm very uncomfortable with [labeling sex on a birth certificate]," Petrona said during the episode."There's no medical benefits to knowing anything about a baby's genitals. It is really unfortunate that that's where the medical system is ... all we are trying to do is let our baby tell us who they are."

https://t.co/YCU8SSgs7k

— Sarah Taylor (@thesarahdtaylor) 1626286031.0

VIDEO: Teacher goes viral for complaining that she can't teach CRT, is required to say Pledge of Allegiance



Iowa teacher Megan Geha made headlines on Wednesday after several of her videos — including one where she admits to being pro-critical race theory — went viral.

The videos in question feature Geha ranting about not being able to teach CRT and about being "forced" to say the Pledge of Allegiance every morning before school begins.

What are the details?

Geha, who, according to the Daily Caller, is a special education teacher at Des Moines East High School in Des Moines, complained about the recent law signed by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) banning the teaching of CRT in public schools.

In one video, Geha complained that the new law was "bulls**t."

"My governor has put into place some ridiculous legislation that many governors have put into place such as I can't teach anything divisive, I can't teach critical race theory, and I can't teach about racial equity," she complained. "So, teachers, in the past we've been activists, and after this s**tshow of last year, we really need to stand up and do what's right for our kids now. This is a call to action. We need to stand up and fight for our kids, because this is bulls**t."

(Content warning: Rough language)

In another video, she complained about having to say the Pledge of Allegiance during school.

"The other thing that my governor has mandated for next year is that every classroom — it's mandatory that we all have an American flag, and it is mandatory that we all do the Pledge of Allegiance every morning," she said. "You're going to be hearing from me a lot next year."

https://t.co/jJoGDlkENV

— Sarah Taylor (@thesarahdtaylor) 1624541725.0

Yet another video featured Geha stating that she ensures that her personal and political beliefs are translated through even her classroom decor.

"Fifty-one percent of my students are Latinx, and many of them are undocumented and many more have parents who are undocumented," she said. "When they come into my classroom and see signs that say 'No human is illegal,' they don't need to know who I voted for. ... When my black students come into my classroom and see my BLM posters, I don't need to tell them. When my LGBTQ+ students come in and see my pride flag, I don't need to tell them."

It's clear, she said, that she has decided to "vote for whoever is on the side of fighting for human rights."

https://t.co/pULwJzqZRM

— Sarah Taylor (@thesarahdtaylor) 1624541687.0

Black mom confronts Florida Board of Ed. over 'racist' critical race theory: 'Not teaching the truth, unless you believe that whites are better than blacks'



Keisha King, a mom in Florida, has gone viral for her heated remarks against teaching critical race theory in Florida schools.

King spoke to the Florida Board of Education recently, insisting that the only people who are proponents of CRT are racists themselves.

What are the details?

King, a parent in Duval County and speaking on behalf of the grassroots activist group Moms for Liberty, warned the board that if unchecked, critical race theory would ruin America.

“Just coming off of May 31st, marking the 100 years of the Tulsa riots, it is sad that we are even contemplating something like critical race theory, where children will be separated by their skin color and deemed permanently oppressors or oppressed in 2021," she said.

King continued, "That is not teaching the truth, unless you believe that whites are better than blacks. I have personally heard teachers teaching CRT and we have had an assembly shut down because a Duval County Public School System consultant thought it would be a great idea to separate students by race. This is unacceptable."

King pointed out that CRT is not "racial sensitivity" or "teaching unfavorable American history," but something far more insidious and damaging to Americans and their country.

"CRT ... is a teaching that there is a hierarchy in society where white male heterosexual able-bodied people are deemed the oppressor and anyone else outside of that status is oppressed," she said. "That's why we see corporations like Coca-Cola asking their employees to be less white, which is ridiculous. I don't know about you, but telling my child or any child that they are in a permanent oppressed status in America because they are black is racist, and saying that white people are automatically above me, my children or any child is racist as well."

King warned her fellow parents and Americans that CRT is nothing short of dangerous for the country.

“Don't take it from me," she added, "look at the writers of these types of publications, our ancestors, white, black, and others hung, bled, and died right alongside each other to push America towards that more perfect union."

"If this continues, we will look back and be responsible for the dismantling of the greatest country in the world by reverting to teaching hate and that race is a determining factor on where your destiny lies," King insisted.

You can listen to King's full remarks in the video below.

Mom says #CRT “does not teach the truth, unless you believe that whites are better than blacks.” Thoughts? https://t.co/xR9Hzk9HkW

— Sarah Taylor (@thesarahdtaylor) 1623416387.0

Police officer responds alone to shots-fired call; mob swarms, attacks him — and then cackles that it was all caught on camera



An unruly mob attacked a Jacksonville, Florida, police officer who responded alone to a call of shots fired, according to WJAX-TV.

The mob swarmed the officer and hit him with their fists and kicked them with their feet as some cackled that the attack had been caught on camera.

What are the details?

The Jacksonville police officer responded to a call of shots fired in the Brooklyn area Thursday night.

The lone officer reportedly rushed to the scene because it was "a potential active shooter situation." He approached a crowd where he thought the shots were coming from.

In a statement on the incident, Steve Zona, president of the Fraternal Order of Police in Jacksonville, said, "Our police officer was actually responding to a report of gunshots, shots being fired. So equate that to a potential active shooter situation."

"When he got down there to try and get people to disperse, one of the people from the crowd actually attacked our police officer," he added.

Social media video captured the moment that a crowd surrounded the lone officer and pushed him to the ground, shouting expletives and attacking him.

In the video, the unnamed officer — who has a rifle strapped to his back — is able to climb to his feet as the person recording the now-viral video runs off laughing about the incident and how he caught the heartless attack on video.

The video does not show what took place immediately following the attack on the officer.

Zona also expressed his disappointment that no one stepped in to help the lone officer during the attack, but according to a new report from WTLV-TV, "a takedown and arrest of the suspected attacker followed."

"We have tremendous support here in the community and I don't think what happened to our police officer is a direct reflection of our community here in Jacksonville, I say it's a direct reflection of the people there," he added.

Content warning: Rough language:

Police officer attacked by mob after responding to shots fired call. This is where we’re at now? https://t.co/8ZbxGIQc8u

— Sarah Taylor (@thesarahdtaylor) 1623250772.0

What else do we know about this?

The station on Tuesday reported that authorities arrested 23-year-old Jermisha Ramsey in connection with the attack and charged her with assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest, and street fighting.

WTLV that the officer suffered "multiple abrasions" in the attack.

Citing the arrest record, WTLV reported:

According to the arrest report, police initially responded to a call in the area of 600 block of Oak Street regarding multiple vehicles being burglarized around 2:10 a.m.Upon arrival, one of the complainants advised the JSO officer she'd heard gunshots down the road. JSO says the officer saw a gathering of people near Edison Avenue and an active fight.The officer requested backup and approached the fight with his police rifle slung on his back. The report says he saw about eight people fighting and arguing in the middle of the road and gave them loud, verbal commands to stop. The officer had to physically separate two individuals, one of whom was later identified as Ramsey.The officer attempted to detain Ramsey for failing to obey his verbal commands but was unsuccessful. The officer attack that was recorded and posted to social media is redacted entirely from the police report. However, the report goes on to say the officer picked up his glasses and gave chase, eventually catching Ramsey, throwing her on the ground and handcuffing her.

(H/T: The Police Tribune)

Cop unceremoniously fired after he mocked LeBron James — but a GoFundMe page for him amasses jaw-dropping amount in donations



Officer Nate Silvester says that he has been fired after a video of him mocking Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James went viral.

What's a very brief history here?

Silvester made headlines in April after sharing video of himself in uniform pretending to phone James for guidance on how to properly assist a fictional stabbing encounter in a mocked-up police call.

Silvester made the video in response to James' posting a photo of the officer involved in the police shooting of Ohio teen Ma'Khia Bryant and captioning it, "YOU'RE NEXT. #ACCOUNTABILITY."

Silvester, who worked for the Bellevue Marshal's Office in Idaho, was suspended shortly after the video emerged on the internet.

#Fired. Former Officer Nate Silvester loses job — and rakes in more than a half-million in GoFundMe donations.… https://t.co/noCWYCack1

— Sarah Taylor (@thesarahdtaylor) 1622218746.0

What are the details?

In an interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity, Silvester said that he lost his job because of cancel culture.

"I am the latest target of cancel culture," he insisted. "That's all it is."

Silvester also told the Fox host that he was simply trying to "humanize the badge."

"None of my other videos that depicted me in my uniform or involving body camera footage, none of those mattered," he said. "They didn't care about those. It wasn't until my LeBron James TikTok struck a political nerve that they started to pay attention and complain about it and came up with forms of discipline."

Hannity, in response to Silvester's allegations, said that the former officer should "sue their asses off."

Silvester responded, "I am still trying to wrap my head around that. I was just fired this morning."

The former law enforcement official also said that he is considering continuing his career in law enforcement, and says that he's received offers "from different agencies and elected officials from across the country."

"It's not off the table," he insisted.

'Last chance agreement'

In a Facebook statement, Bellevue Mayor Ned Burns said that Silvester was fired on Thursday for "continued policy violations" after he was reportedly on a "last chance agreement" with superiors.

"The policy violations have nothing to do with the tone or tenor of his speech that he posts online," the post explained. "He was not terminated for the content of his speech; he was terminated for his failure to follow clearly laid out and well-established policy."

The post continued, "The decision was solely made by the command structure within the Bellevue Marshals [sic] office and was not influenced in any way by me or by the City Council."

'Gunning for Nate's termination'

At the time of this writing, a GoFundMe page to benefit the newly unemployed police officer has received more than $530,000 — a total that continues to climb as the days go by.

On Thursday, Gannon Ward, the page's organizer, shared an update on Silvester's firing and wrote, "Unofficially, as I stated originally, Bellevue mayor Ned Burns has been gunning for Nate's termination since his Lebron James TikTok went viral. We have heard through the grape vine this is coming down the pipes, it was only a matter of time, and they were just looking for a reason to terminate him."

VIDEO: Hysterical woman claims airport employee ‘choked’ her to the ground after she reportedly entered restricted area: ‘I want the manager of the f***ing airport here!’



A viral video making the rounds on social media Thursday shows a woman in the midst of a hysterical breakdown, accusing airport staff of choking her and throwing her to the ground.

What are the details of the video?

The video features the unnamed woman screaming at the top of her lungs while an airport police officer works to calm her down at what appears to be an airport terminal gate.

The woman screams that she was down to the ground during an incident that is not caught on camera and demands audience with the airport's manager.

"He threw me to the ground! My name is Terry Ann [inaudible]. I want the f***ing manager of the airport here! ... Who saw him choke me? Who saw me?"

The woman then turns to fellow passengers waiting at the gate and demands, "Who saw him choke me to the ground?"

An off-camera passenger can be heard responding, "I saw you run through the door when you weren't supposed to."

The woman then goes off again and screams that she was taken down to the ground by the employee.

"He choked me to the ground! I'm a woman in a dress!" she screamed.

"Boo hoo," the passenger can be heard telling the woman as a second passenger chimes in, "You deserved it, bitch!"

"Boo hoo?" she cries. "You f*** off! I want the manager of the airport here."

(Content warning: Rough language):

“He choked me to the ground!” https://t.co/5DcG2FhdIy

— Sarah Taylor (@thesarahdtaylor) 1622134195.0

What else?

WISH-TV reported Thursday that the incident did not take place at the Indianapolis International Airport, according to a spokesperson, despite previous videos asserting that it did.

The airport also took to Twitter Thursday afternoon, where it stated, "A number of media outlets have contacted the Indianapolis Airport Authority about a viral video making its way through social media. Please be advised, the incident depicted in the video did not occur at the Indianapolis International Airport."

A number of media outlets have contacted the Indianapolis Airport Authority about a viral video making its way thro… https://t.co/Dc72m4NAVY

— Indianapolis Airport (@INDairport) 1622133564.0

DFW?

If you look closely at the logo on a luggage cart near the gate, it appears to say "DFW" — the airport code for Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.

Blaze Media has reached out to the airport for a statement on the video, but did not receive a response in time for publication.

VIDEO: Florida man tears into school board over ‘equity’ and inclusivity mission: ‘Your only job is education, not indoctrination!



A Florida man who indicated he was a member of the U.S. military embarked on an angry rant at an area school district after it unveiled its new equity statement.

A portion of the new statement decries "white advantage" and vows to dismantle racism and "other systems of oppression and inequity."

District parents have been flooding the district with complaints about the racially divisive language used in the new equity statement, which was approved earlier in May, and now the district is considering pulling back on using the controversial terminology.

What are the details?

In a now-viral video, an unidentified man can be seen shouting at members of Palm Beach County's school district over the district's current mandatory mask policy and its equity statement.

The man, who can be seen on video speaking during the public comments section of the Wednesday night meeting, can be heard saying, "The school board recently adopted an equity statement. Why? Your only job is education, not indoctrination."

Audience members cheered the man's statement.

The man continues growing more and more agitated and continues, "Attention board members: Our nation is a republic! We are the people, we have a voice, our votes are our weapons, and we will use them in 2022 and beyond! We in the military, our blood, our sweat, is the equity. It is courage, character; not color, not gender, that makes this nation great. Working Americans are united, we are not divided. Stop trying to incite division among us!"

He concludes, "We are Americans first, and we will be free always!"

“Your only job is education, not indoctrination!” https://t.co/gx75XZz2t2

— Sarah Taylor (@thesarahdtaylor) 1621621214.0

What else?

The school district's new equity statement and mask mandate have raised many questions and concerns from district parents, and Wednesday night's public session lasted for more than seven hours, according to a Thursday report from WPTV-TV.

The statement says that "each student — regardless of race, ethnicity, poverty, disability, language status, undocumented status, religious affiliation, gender identity, and sexual orientation — will have access to the opportunities, resources, and support they need to imagine, nurture, and achieve their dreams."

You can read the equity statement in its entirety below:

The School District of Palm Beach County is committed to dismantling racism and other systems of oppression and inequity. We will create equitable and inclusive schools that ensure students have what they need to be successful in school and life.

Achieving racial equity requires proactive and continuous investment in historically marginalized groups who have endured centuries of systemic oppression. The School District of Palm Beach County is committed to dismantling structures rooted in white advantage and transforming our system by hearing and elevating under-represented voices, sharing power, recognizing and eliminating bias, and redistributing resources to provide equitable outcomes.

The School District of Palm Beach County will take ownership for students' academic mastery, emotional intelligence, and social-emotional needs by creating environments where students, families, staff, and communities will develop agency and voice.

The School District of Palm Beach County acknowledges the existence of—and will eliminate—systems, processes, and mindsets that perpetuate race, ethnicity, poverty, disability, language status, undocumented status, religious affiliation, gender identity, and sexual orientation as predictors of achievement.

The School District of Palm Beach County will embrace, celebrate, and honor our students, families, staff, and community members and their unique cultural histories, while ensuring each student achieves personal and academic success.

What else?

According to WPTV, there was an "enhanced police presence and security measures" both inside and outside the building during the contentious meeting, a move the board said was "done in an abundance of caution."

More than 100 people spoke during the meeting, and the board said it received "hundreds" of emails in protest of both the mask mandate and equity statement.

Last week, Superintendent Dr. Donald Fennoy announcedthat face masks will be optional for students for the 2021-2022 school year. Masks are still required for the remainder of the current academic year, which ends June 18.

District may now pull back on 'white advantage'

On Friday, the Palm Beach Post reported that the school board is now considering removing the reference to "white advantage" from its recently approved declaration.

In response to the backlash, board member Karen Brill recommended that the reference to "structures rooted in white advantage" be removed from the statement.

"It is evident that a few of the words are not helpful, and in fact, are harmful," Brill said.

According to the outlet, Brill proposed that board members consider revising the language for a new approval.

"School Board Chairman Frank Barbieri echoed Brill's proposal, saying that the statement was being so widely misinterpreted it had created an 'untenable situation,'" the Post added. "The equity statement, he said, was intended to explain the school board's dedication to offset the effects of inequities between children, not to draw a distinction between the school district's white and non-white students."

Barbieri said, "I think it's important that we understand that was the purpose of the equity statement. It wasn't to make it a black and white issue, which is what the perception is now."