Pulled From Social Media: An African American Mother says Hoboken Education Association President Claims Black Parents Currently Fighting for Civil Rights in the District are “same clowns just a different time”

Mr. Gary Enrico - President of the Hoboken Teachers Association

The following is a social media post by an African American parent whose child attended school in the Hoboken School District in Hoboken, NJ. This post relates to a March 13, 2018 Board of Education meeting and involves a Hoboken teacher and Association President Mr. Gary Enrico. At the March 13, 2018 meeting, a number of African American mothers approached the Board with concerns about the district centering around treatment of African American, Hispanic, and low income students. One African American mother was escorted out of the meeting as police were called to "maintain order"-- her offense? She spoke about 45 seconds over the allocated 5 minutes. What was especially troubling is at the end of this Board meeting the President of the Hoboken Teachers Association took it upon himself to address the Board and the televised audience concerning (the lack of) racism in the school district. Talking about the lack of racism is something that a white male in a power position should generally be reflective about before speaking.

This is not the first time the union President, Mr. Gary Enrico has garnered attention for his feeling about race, class, and socioeconomics. In 2013: https://patch.com/new-jersey/hoboken/teachers-union-head-reaffirms-controversial-stance-ona8e5d6d2f0 when he stated that the real reason local parents opt for charter schools, according to the longtime high school music teacher and marching band director, is to avoid having their kids mix with kids from public housing. In fact, Mr. Enrico even made headlines in Breitbart for his position on why parents send their children to private and charter schools.  

On a related note, Mr. Enrico has not been a big supporter of the award winning and nationally recognized Hola Dual Language School. In fact, he helped support a lawsuit to revoke Hola's charter with his own money and organized a failed effort to legally assure Hola's charter was revoke.

Part I. You may want to update yourself on the issues involved. Here is what was said at the March 13, 2018 Hoboken Board of Education meeting concerning racism in the school district: CLICK HERE



Part II. Mr. Enrico responded later at the same March 13, 2018 meeting (see transcript below)  March 13, 2018 TRANSCRIPT OF MR. ENRICO to the Hoboken Board of Education:  

note: "Christina" is Hoboken Superintendent Dr. Christine Johnson who Mr. Enrico evidently feels comfortable enough to address by first name at a public meeting. Irene Sobalov was a Hoboken Board of Education trustee at the time of this meeting and a long time member of the Kids First-legacy reform effort. Ms. Sobalov previously gained some attention a year before by making homo-phobic remarks about a city councilman. (additional information)

"I’ve known Irene Sobalov…for a long long time…alright…and…I would say…state publicly that you are not a racist. I know it…I know it from working with you and as far as from the teachers point of view we are with the Board of Education. This is a show that they put on (slight hand wave). Its a big show because of the cameras (waves hand again pointing behind him) and they want to get on tv these people. So they’ll do anything possible to get on..alright..I’ve said it in the past, I’ve been a board member and I know how hard it is to sit up there and people telling lies…but…thats part of what these people do. And as far as the superintendent - I want you to know that the teachers are fully fully behind you and everything that you are offering the district. I know nights like this its tough cause we’ve talked numerous times when no one’s around…and we just…you know..talk about things…so, I’m asking you to ride this out..alright…cause you got a lot…to offer this district Christine alight— and I don’t want you to be swayed by these people- they are all just looking for publicity—ahhh—because in some ways….(pause)…they’re racists. But I— I had a big thing planned for tonight but I didn’t - I don’t want to get into it now because its late first of all and I want to stay positive on what we’re doing here as a district. I’m here forty..starting my forty-third year (pause) and the guy…(turns to face the audience behind him) who—is he still here that guy? He had the sweater on…basically hit it — we had many superintendents but we (adjusts the microphone) finally got one I think that believes in the district…and is committed to the district …and they’re trying to derail it. Alright— and I want you to know Christina you have a lot— you have our support and I know the Board is behind you 100%. This is a show…believe me its just a show (adjusts microphone). Alright…its the same circus different clowns and they’re going to go off one day and we’re going to forget about them . So—hopefully—you can understand what we’re are saying as teachers (waves arm) I know I speak on behalf of my Vice President here and its (shakes head mildly) just a show. Alright…so..Irene (gives ‘thumbs up’ signal)….(pause)…all I can say is you’re not a racist . No matter what they say up here…its..its just a joke really and they’re a joke—but…Enjoy the rest of the evening and…see you next time."

Part III. A post was uploaded a few days later to social media concerning Mr. Enrico's "clowns" remark and further addressing racism in the district.  African American Mother on Social Media:   
#shotsfired
 
Note: Posted to Social Media March 16, 2018. Three days after the President of the Hoboken Teachers Association addressed the public about "same clowns"...

"The President of the Hoboken Education Association stated on the public record that Black Parents fighting for Civil Rights are “same clowns just a different time.” He also said that folks fighting for Civil Rights “just want to be famous.” Well obviously this guy is a bigot and his statements are racially offensive. But more importantly, for someone who is an educator, a school leader, and someone who works with Black children all the time, he is both ignorant and dangerous to the wellbeing of children of color and he nor his Vice President should be allowed to go near them ever. That would be endangering the welfare of a child.

Let me enlighten everyone on how ignorant this man’s statements are. 

First, historically, Black folks that became famous for fighting Civil Rights were assasinated. Second, under the Trump administration, Black folks that are currently fighting for Civil Rights are being placed on “terror watch lists”, blackballed from making a living, or committing suicide because we live in a time where bigotry is running the White House and the work fighting that is intense and brutal. Third, if we are “the same clowns just from a different time”, how many other times has the district been accused of racism during your tenure? That would explain, though, why nothing has changed. And lastly, would you call women that are fighting for equal pay and to the ending of rape culture “clowns”? 

Would you call the alleged rape victim(s) at Hoboken high school clowns that just want to be famous. Would you call the mother of the Black child who your Vice President allowed to be racially bullied and then the child attempted to hang herself, in your second in commands class, a clown. Actually your colleague just verbally abused the child for the rest of the year and then got the family kicked out of the district. Your colleague and partner in crime damn near destroyed that child and you went on to live your lives, collect your salaries, and move on to do it to another Black child without consequence. I assure you there is no real upside to becoming famous for Civil Rights because you don’t actually get acknowledged until you are six feet under. 

The leadership of the Hoboken Education Association, called us “racist” for calling out Irene Sobolov for her abuse of power and bigotry, which by the way is well documented. Someone needs to educate the union President on what racism means. I guess we can check the box of another lie Dr. Johnson told because she said all teachers were receiving cultural competence training. Anyway, last time I checked, racism is not, “I know you are but what am I.” It is power and prejudice and deeply rooted in the DNA of this country. The other thing someone needs to remind these people of is that racism is systemic and perpetuated by institutional power, a privilege Black Parents in the Hoboken Public School District don’t possess. 

Lastly, I have taken the Middle School Principal to task once and deeply believe the Assistant Superintendent is under qualified and over paid and serves as token or a prop for fake ass diversity, while he sits back collects his big six figure salary, get his PhD paid for by tax payer money, and stand by watching black children be destroyed daily. I recently complained about him intentionally creating a hostile learning environment for my daughter as pay back for criticizing Dr. Johnson. Both administrators are Black. And we are not hearing great things from Black and Latino families and children about the Black principal at Connors either. Honestly this entire place needs a reset. 

The NJEA should really intervene before racial tensions between the larger Black community and the teachers union grow. While they may think it is just a few of us Black Parents, I assure you the next meeting we won’t be so light. Our kids have a right to a quality education free of discrimination and teacher bias something the union leadership confirmed through forms of harassment and intimidation and racially offensive statements of Black Parents. You have specifically been in the way of progress and equally responsible for failing to educate Black Brown and Low income students #factscheck. 

Now I know the educational genocide taking place in our schools has not only been orchestrated by you but executed to perfection. To the contrary of what you might think, this time no one is going anywhere until what you have done to countless of classes of students is dismantled. If the union leader cared about humanity they would be supporting children not institutional hacks that give you big contracts with zero accountability. We support teachers but not abusive union leaders."

#hobokenpublicschools 
#hobokeneducationassociation