Black Lives Matter leader meets with St. Paul superintendent over posts
The St. Paul Public Schools superintendent is meeting Monday with a leader of Black Lives Matter St. Paul after the group called for a Como Park High School teacher to be dismissed because of his social media comments.
Black Lives Matter St. Paul organizer Rashad Turner posted screenshots from teacher Theodore Olson's Facebook page last week. The group's post threatens a "shut down action" if the teacher isn't fired.
One of Olson's comments complained that teachers are being blamed for the "school-to-prison pipeline" and that adult authority was being undermined in schools. The other comment Olson posted said teachers "have no backup, no functional location to send kids who won't quit gaming, setting up fights, selling drugs, whoring trains, or cyber bullying."
A spokesperson for the district confirmed that Superintendent Valeria Silva is scheduled to meet with Turner at 9 a.m. Monday.
Neither Turner nor Olson immediately responded to requests for comment.
Create a More Connected Minnesota
MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.