Racist Education Meeting Driven Out of Duluth

Racist activists affiliated with the Center of the American Experience, had planned on holding a meeting at the Northland Country Club on June 17.  The goal of their meeting was to try and mobilize people to oppose anti-racist curriculum in public schools.  This meeting was to be part of a series of meetings that the group is holding across the state of Minnesota, presumably in preparation for launching a campaign aimed at passing legislation to ban anti-racism from being taught in the schools.

The following quote from the Center’s website provides a snapshot of their message: “Join us to learn more about how Critical Race Theory advances a leftist, anti-American agenda that radically changes how our children learn about their country. Most important, learn how parents can push back against the politicizing of our schools. Each informational session will cover the revisions to Minnesota’s social studies standards that are now in progress, the “woke” movement that is transforming our education system, and alternatives to public schools.”

Anti-racist activists, educators and other concerned citizens responded by calling for a protest that would take place at the same time as the Center’s meeting.  There were also plans for some to attend the meeting, and challenge them at their own venue.  Pressure was also put on the Country Club to cancel the meeting, which was ultimately successful.

After the Northland Country Club cancelled their earlier decision to host the event (ostensibly due to a staffing shortage), the Center of the American Experience rented a meeting room at the Holiday Inn in downtown Duluth.  Following a flood of calls and emails however, the Holiday Inn cancelled the event and made a point of telling folks that they were not in any way affiliated with the Center.

As of right now, it appears the racist meeting has been driven out of town.  The Center’s Kathryn Hinderaker issued a statement saying the Duluth event has been cancelled for now.  Progressive activists remain vigilant that it may be rescheduled at a new date and venue.  If that happens the Northwoods Worker will be sure to immediately inform its readers, to help in organizing a new campaign to shut it down.

We salute and congratulate everyone involved in shutting this event down, and who was involved in or planning on attending the protest.  It’s important for communities to turn out against such hateful organizing efforts.  We ignore right wing organizing at our own risk, and we feel that a broad, diverse mass mobilization is the best way of demoralizing and countering right wing organizing efforts.

While it’s important to celebrate this victory, it’s also a good time to realize that what the Center is organizing against, is largely a figment of their imagination.  The reality is that anti-racist curriculum is not a standard feature in area school curriculum.  A LOT of work needs to be done is re-writing the history that is currently taught in our schools so that it honestly and constructively reflects the past, and therefore can prove useful in moving towards a better future.