A Colorado school district faces accusations of firing an employee who expressed views against critical race theory (CRT) during a mandatory diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training session.
America First Legal (AFL) filed a lawsuit against the Cherry Creek School District on behalf of Patrick Hogarty.
Hogarty, a former dean of students, alleges the school district violated his First Amendment rights by terminating his employment under “false pretenses.”
New: The Colorado Dean Students at Campus Middle School in the Cherry Creek School District was fired after saying America is “the greatest country in the world” during DEI training.
Via: The Independent pic.twitter.com/3jrjGxaOAH
— The Calvin Coolidge Project (@TheCalvinCooli1) September 28, 2024
“Disguised as a ‘budget cut,’ Mr. Hogarty’s position as dean was eliminated because the district found Mr. Hogarty’s pride in the United States of America incompatible with the district’s political ideology that America is a systemically racist nation,” the lawsuit alleges.
“Like other school districts across the country, Cherry Creek School District has replaced the Bill of Rights with a ‘DEI Manifesto,’ and teachers, students, and parents are being silenced for standing up for the values that make America great,” it continued.
Fox News reports:
Hogarty, who served as dean of students at Campus Middle School from 2021 to 2024, voiced his belief in American identity and the greatness of the United States during the session, which focused on race and equity through the “Courageous Conversations” program, according to the suit.
ADVERTISEMENTFor example, Hogarty was asked, “What does it mean to be White?;” “What experiences define Whiteness?;” “How do you identify?”
Hogarty responded “that he identifies as an American, that he loves his country, and that he believes it is the greatest country ever founded.”
Despite assurances from the district that his comments would remain confidential, the district’s equity director reported his statements, which the director deemed to have “racist undertones.”
Shortly after, the district eliminated his position, citing budgetary reasons, despite records showing increased staffing allocations, the suit said.
READ: https://t.co/YWGm888wHE
In a shocking move, Cherry Creek School District @CCSDK12 allegedly labeled his pride in America as racist and terminated him. This is what happens when…
— Colorado Parent Advocacy Network (@CPANColorado) September 26, 2024
Colorado dean of students fired after saying USA is ‘the greatest country in the world’ during mandatory DEI training
“Cherry Creek @CCSDK12 has replaced the Bill of Rights with the ‘DEI Manifesto,’ and teachers, students, and parents are being silenced for standing up for the… pic.twitter.com/e9V67ksszN
— 𝕊𝕔𝕒𝕣𝕪 𝔼𝕝𝕖𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝔻𝕖𝕟𝕚𝕖𝕣
(@nomandatesco) September 27, 2024
From The Post Millennial:
Ian Prior, America First Legal senior advisor, wrote in a press release: “Cherry Creek School District blatantly violated the First Amendment rights of our client when they terminated him because his pride in the United States of America did not align with the district’s political ideology that America is a systematically racist nation. Like other school districts across the country, Cherry Creek has replaced the Bill of Rights with the ‘DEI Manifesto,’ and teachers, students, and parents are being silenced for standing up for the values that make America great.”
Read the full lawsuit HERE.
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