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The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –
Sumner County continues to see controversy over efforts to honor the late Charlie Kirk as some parents recently protested the school district’s designation of Oct. 14 as “Charlie Kirk Day” by keeping their children home.
The school board made clear via a Facebook post the schools would not be “conducting a specific presentation, lesson, assembly, or otherwise alter the normal course of our school day,” and reiterated the purpose of the “symbolic gesture” was to “encourage everyone in Sumner County to listen, to hear, and to come together through respectful dialogue and mutual understanding in a way that honors the best of America of the future of our kids.”
But evidently, that was still a step too far for certain parents who believed the board overstepped their authority in unanimously passing the resolution without input from local families.
“If you are going to choose something for my children, without any input from me of the community, I don’t want to make you feel like that’s acceptable,” said Ryan Thomas, who has two daughters he kept home from school on Oct. 14. “So, what can we do that won’t be violent and destructive? Keep your kids home for a day. Let those empty seats and those empty lockers be representative of parents speaking out.”
Thomas reportedly rallied others via Facebook by creating an online event called “Stand for Civility. Sumner students stay home”, and commenting on groups focused on families in the area. He believes other families felt similarly but didn’t join for fear of “being ostracized in the mostly conservative county.”
Another parent who kept her children home on Charlie Kirk Day was Hilary Lounder, co-organizer for Sumner Indivisible. The Indivisible organization is a primary sponsor and partner of the No Kings protests and often promotes and advocates for left-wing causes.
Lounder told local media she didn’t understand the board’s reasoning for dedicating Kirk’s birthday to civil discourse but not planning anything special. “If you want to make [Oct. 14] about civil discourse then wouldn’t you encourage teachers to talk about a debate and civil ways to do it?” she asked.
She also hopes the board will reconsider their declaration that Charlie Kirk Day is to be an annual celebration after “community feedback”.
Republican school board member Wade Evans recently used the same talking point to state his regret for voting for the Charlie Kirk resolution and in his advocacy to change the school system’s designation of “Christmas Break” back to “Winter Break”, claiming the particular mention of the Christian holiday is too exclusionary.
That controversy has drawn much attention of late, with board members heatedly debating the topic during a recent non-voting study session. Several members defended the change, stating Christmas is officially recognized at the state and federal levels and the break is specifically scheduled around the celebration of Christmas.
Evans and another Republican, Meghan Breining, continued to press the need for “inclusive language” and the importance of “not judging others outside of the [Christian] faith.”
The Republican-majority board is set to officially vote on the matter during their regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 21.
About the Author: Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
