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Who is Michelle Leete? NAACP official slammed for wishing death of anti-CRT parents

Leete, in her speech on Thursday, also said: 'Let’s not allow any double downing on lies. Let’s prepare our children for a world they deserve'

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VIRGINIA: The supposed inclusion of critical race theory in public schools across the US continues to be a contentious topic. At a Fairfax County School Board meeting, this debate took a heated turn when an official of the local PTA and NAACP said about disgruntled parents: "Let them die!"

As Republican lawmakers continue to push against what they see as un-American ideas, parents -- mostly White parents -- have sided with conservative politicians, often claiming that CRT teaches children to divide and discriminate. As per conservative news website The Daily Wire, parents gathered outside the school board meeting on Thursday, July 15, for an event billed as a “STOP CRT RALLY.” 

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The board holds regular business meetings twice monthly in the auditorium at Jackson Middle School. A flyer for the “STOP CRT RALLY" there reportedly noted: “While they deny it’s being taught, NEA doubles down. It’s not about race or equity, it’s about a Communist Radical Takeover of America!” Counter-protesters were also present, and one of them was the aforementioned official. 

Who is Michelle Leete?

Leete is the first vice president at the civil rights organization, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. She is also vice president of training at the Virginia state PTA and vice president of communications for the Fairfax County PTA. 

Leete, in her speech on Thursday, said: “So let’s meet and remain steadfast in speaking truth, tearing down double standards, and refuting double talk. Let’s not allow any double downing on lies. Let’s prepare our children for a world they deserve.” 

She continued, “Let’s deny this off-key band of people that are anti-education, anti-teacher, anti-equity, anti-history, anti-racial reckoning, anti-opportunities, anti-help people, anti-diversity, anti-platform, anti-science, anti-change agent, anti-social justice, anti-healthcare, anti-worker, anti-LGBTQ+, anti-children, anti-healthcare, anti-worker, anti-environment, anti-admissions policy change, anti-inclusion, anti-live-and-let live people. Let them die. Don’t let these uncomfortable people deter us from our bold march forward.”

Her words, “Let them die,” were met with a cheer, as captured in a video shared by journalist and author Asra Nomani. The former Wall Street Journal reporter and the author of ‘Standing Alone: An American Woman’s Struggle for the Soul of Islam’, and co-founder of the Muslim Reform Movement spoke with the Daily Wire about what she witnessed. 

Nomani, whose son just graduated from Fairfax County Public Schools and who helps run the watchdog group Parents Defending Education, said, “I listened, stunned, as Michelle Leete, an executive of the NAACP and the PTA, put a target on the backs of parents just because they have a different point of view.” 

Nomani, who is also a PTA member, further said, “What we heard tonight was hate speech, pure and simple. It was shocking that anyone would cheer and applaud a call to violence… Ironically, her hateful, intolerant words are a perfect illustration of the divisive ideology of critical race theory in action. In the name of tolerance, it preaches intolerance and is a betrayal of all values of humanity and decency.”

Leete's words were slammed by conservatives online. "If you thought 'defund the police' was a bad political slogan, this Democrat in Virginia is shouting 'let them die' if you disagree with her proposals," tweeted one person. Another person said, "No one hates more deeply than 'progressives' when confronted by people that disagree with them." One Twitter user wrote, "This is what stops us from having a 'conversation'. Dems want us to die. Whereas we call for unity, history, and accountability!"