Activists are calling for a rehire of a college instructor relieved of her duties last month after she was accused of making racially insensitive remarks during an interview with FOX News.
Several protesters, including members of Black Lives Matter, were at an assembly of county legislators on Thursday night to deliberate former Essex County College adjunct professor Lisa Durden who was also in attendance.
According to NJ.com, Lisa Durden presented a petition of 2,500 signatures supporting her to the board. The legislators, often referred to as freeholders, cannot hire or fire at the college, albeit they are responsible for the appointment of college trustees. Freeholder President Britnee Timberlake has said he will make sure the college knows about the petition.
Last month, Lisa Durden, who teaches communications and pop culture classes as an adjunct appeared on “Tucker Carlson Tonight” to defend a black-only Black Lives Matter event.
On the show held on June 6, Durden argued with Carlson on how ideal it was for only blacks to attend a Black Lives Matter event in New York City on Memorial Day.
“Listen. What I say to that is boo-hoo-hoo,” she said. “You white people are angry because you couldn’t use your ‘white privilege’ card to get invited to the Black Lives Matter’s all-black Memorial Day celebration! Wow!”
According to College president Anthony Munroe, Lisa Durden’s Fox News interview brought about calls from students, prospective students and families “expressing frustration, concern and even fear that the views expressed by a college employee with influence over students would negatively impact their experience on the campus.”
Anthony Munroe noted at the time that although Lisa Durden did not mention her links with the school on the show, "her employment with us and potential impact on students required our immediate review into what seemed to have become a very contentious and divisive issue."
"The character of this institution mandates that we embrace diversity, inclusion and unity," he said. "Racism cannot be fought with more racism."
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The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) has steadily evolved from a fringe political faction into a highly visible movement, advocating for sweeping structural reforms to the United States economy and system of governance.