The Alliance Defending Freedom was founded by men with ties to Focus on the Family, the Campus Crusade for Christ, Jerry Falwell’s Moral Majority and other groups that support Christian values. It has been front and center in arguing against gay marriage and civil rights for transgender people, but it’s latest concern is certain programs that claim to promote racial equity in public schools.
In 2019, Albemarle County said it would work to eliminate racism and improve outcomes for students of color who had traditionally lagged behind. At the Alliance, attorney Ryan Bangert says the approach is – itself – racist.
“It tells certain students, 'You are saddled with guilt. You are saddled with shame, you are saddled with this oppressor status,' and it tells another group of students, 'You are inherently disadvantaged in life merely because of your skin color, and both of those messages are harmful to kids.'"
Bangert says his group does not oppose teaching about the nation’s history, and he insists it is not racist.
“We agree that racism is a problem, but we fundamentally disagree with the solution that’s being proposed by the school."
The Alliance is providing legal assistance at no charge to five anonymous families who say they want to protect their children from racial stereotyping and discrimination. A spokesman for the district said officials had not yet seen the complaint and could not comment.
