Think about that. I love US for real. https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/education/article_268e5b2e-5162-11e9-a304-4397bc7cfc9d.htmlhttps://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/courts/article_ac03715e-c354-11e9-ab49-c712c9b061fc.htmlhttps://m.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fmingarychambers%2Fvideos%2F10163856623180013%2F\u0026show_text=0\u0026width=560https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/education/article_50df7e4c-b27f-11ea-b969-5b0376f4116f.html District 8 school board member Connie Bernard during a meeting of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, Thursday, February 21, 2019, at the school board offices in Baton Rouge, La. NBA baller LeBron James even retweeted the video: FACTS!!! Activist Gary Chambers forcefully tore into board member Connie Bernard at Thursdays East Baton Rouge Parish School Board meeting during a discussion on whether to rename the school. 's Office + Lawyer Files Video Evidence Of Accuser Unhurt After Alleged Attack, BLACK ROYALTY:QUEEN CHARLOTTE: A BRIDGERTON STORY, Marques Houston Under Fire For Controversial Dating Remarks, Labeling Women His Age & Single Mothers As 'Red Flags. UPDATE: Connie Bernard has announced she's stepping down as the vice president of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board. I stand on that. In her resignation letter, Bernard attributed the decision to her . She was shopping while citizens were speaking about changing the name of Lee High. On Monday, Chambers appeared on MSNBC's "Morning Joe.". Howard noted that the board does not have the power to remove a sitting board member. [CDATA[ // &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;! "I. I wasnt shopping, she told the newspaper. He didn't just switch sides, he changed positions. You had every opportunity to apologize during the board meeting, but instead you chose to shop for dresses while members from our community, including parents and teachers, waited seven hours to speak on an item that concerns our students., Bernard released a statement on Friday, saying: My comments last week about the naming of Lee High School were insensitive, have caused pain for others, and have led people to believe I am an enemy of people of color, and I am deeply sorry. See the Chambers full message in the video below. 2023 Cable News Network. I promise to be part of the solution and to listen to the concerns of all members of our community. Every action requires a consequence!". Peep the clip below: A post shared by Kimberly Latrice Jones (@kimberlylatricejones) on May 31, 2020 at 4:18pm PDT. You are horrible.. She assumed office in 2010. "This is how we make change happen! Last week, school board member Dadrius Lanus introduced a resolution to set up a committee to rename Lee High School, which was originally named after Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee. Sitting over there shopping while were talking about Robert E. Lee. We won the vote to change the name of Lee High, but the work continues until Connie is gone. This was not my intention when I offered to withdraw in the primary election. Thats exactly what happened. Stay up to date with the latest news by downloading the BRProud App from the App Store or Google Play. Connie Back in 2018, Bernard was involved in a physical and verbal dispute with a teenager. [CDATA[ // &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;! During Thursdays meeting, many of Bernards fellow board members expressed their disappointment in her suggestion that people research Lee more before insisting that the school change its name. ", A video of part of Chambers' speech has gone viral, with celebrities including Ava DuVernay and LeBron James sharing it on Twitter. These are important times, and what we do next TOGETHER could change the world. Black or white. He was a horrible person who helped cause the death of thousands of Americans to uphold the rights of states to keep African people enslaved in America. Baton Rouge School Board member Connie Bernard 's lost the confidence of her colleagues after she was called out for ignoring an intense discussion about race -- and that's A-OK with the. Before Chambers took the podium, he posted a picture of Bernard allegedly shopping. Not a single person spoke for Brown. Vigil held for two Livingston Parish brothers who drowned Saturday, New scooters raising concerns around LSU's campus, 9-year-old and 6-year-old brothers drown in Livingston Parish neighborhood pond. There is a very formal and involved process for removing your name from the ballot and she didnt take those steps, so voters were still able to cast ballots in her favor. According to History.com, Lee inherited his father-in-laws plantation, his debts and about 200 slaves. Cookie Notice The school board ultimately voted in support of changing the name of the school. The Advocate also left messages Thursday with her listed attorney, Aidan Reynolds, as well as another attorney, John McLindon. Connie Bernard assaulting youthBelow are links pertaining to the video, and a recent school board meeting where she defended Robert E. Lee, and seen online shopping while people express their concerns. Note: Explicit language. Connie Sue Campbell Bernard (born November 20, 1961) is the owner of a public relations firm in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, who is a Republican former member of the East Baton Rouge School Board. 2. We almost didnt get the second Black man who was nominated into the position because still, she felt she shouldve been the board VP because she served on the board longer. An incumbent like Connie Bernard, who I think was a particularly famous incumbent its an uphill battle to try to take out an incumbent, even if that incumbent has dropped out, Darr explained. Connie Bernard ( Republican Party) was a member of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board in Louisiana, representing District 8. Sheriff's deputies issued her a misdemeanor. Hughley & He Responds, Ye To Appear On 'The Kardashians', Kanye Follows Pete On IG, Gets Payback, Kim K Unfollows Ye + Kid Cudi Receives Supportive Message From Ye Amid Their Drama, IM SORRY - NOT! Gary went on "Morning Joe" to talk about his passionate speech: As the nation watches, let me say Im humbled by the support. Warning: The video below contains graphic language. Community member Gary Chambers said he planned to speak about why Lee was not an appropriate figure to honor during Thursdays meeting, but instead, he shifted gears and addressed Bernard. NEXT: WATCH: Natasha Sits Down With Senate Hopeful Jaime Harrison Lindsey Graham's Unlikely Opponent - For First Interview In The #YBFPOLITICS Vertical! When we dont confront elected officials we give them permission to disrespect us and to devalue us. Thanks Joe and Mika and the whole crew for the conversation. "Her actions, as proven on the video, do not set a positive example for parents, students, or the system that she's elected to represent," said Carrie Griffin Monica, Executive Director of Stand for Children. Arthur Pania, another community member who attended the meeting said he saw Bernard shopping online for at least eight minutes. Republican Connie Bernard brought in more than 5,800 votes. I condemn racial injustice in any form. According to the East Baton Maurepas man killed in Livingston Parish motorcycle wreck. I promise to be part of the solution and to listen to the concerns of all members of our community. That needs to change in a city that is 56% Black. However, a few angry parents don't believe Bernard is doing that. Although none of the board members would address the subject directly, VerettaLee had this message at the beginning of the meeting: "Be accountable. Jonathan Majors Problems Mount As More Alleged Abuse Victims Collaborate With D.A. State courts denied his petitions, and Lee officially freed the enslaved people on December 29, 1862 just days before the Emancipation Proclamation. I was actually taking notes, paying attention, reading online comments, she told The Advocate. EXCLUSIVE: Queens Court Hosts Holly Robinson Peete & Rodney Peete Share Relationship Lessons Learned From Magic Johnson & Samuel L. Jackson's Marriages, EXCLUSIVE: Idris Elba On The Emotional Toll Of Playing Luther, Reveals His Toughest Scene Yet, EXCLUSIVE: Power Book II Star Larenz Tate Reflects On Why The 90s Were So Special For Black Cinema & The Possibility Of Sequels, WEEKEND FOOLERY: Ye Blasts Kim K Over North Again & Pete Davidson Savagely CLAPS BACK + Kanye Threatens D.L. If you think her actions are unacceptable send an email to the members of the board encouraging Connie to resign. I condemn racial injustice in any form. Heres The Latest On Single-Again Kanye Wests Harassing Social Media Posts Aimed At Kim K, Lil Meech And Summer Walker Dating Rumors Heat Up: Meech Calls Cap On Bedroom Photo With Another Woman, Summer Seemingly FaceTimes Meech, Nelly & Ashanti Spin The Block, Fueling Dating Rumors While Cozied Up In Las Vegas, John Boyega BLASTED By IG Influencer Pam MacB For Allegedly Cheating On And Dehumanizing Her, Oh? Its a really interesting case and I dont know how its going to end up, so well keep following it, I guess, added Darr. He called her out for, what appeared to be, shopping online during a school board meeting to change the name of an EBR school to a less racially charged name. A weak frontal system will push through the Friday AM Forecast: Plenty of sunshine today, No. Also let Connie know its time for her to resign. According to the local TV station WVLA/WGMB, Bernard voted at the time to keep the name honoring the Confederate general. History will judge us for what we do in this moment. her laptop screen showed a shopping website, Louisianas first Black governor, P.B.S. A Change.org petition urging Bernard to resign garnered more than 7,200 signatures as of Sunday afternoon. Bernard nor her attorney could be reached for comment. The two things that matter the most are party I.D. You should resign You should walk out of here and resign and never come back because you are the example of racism in this community. Three days after the incident, Bernard issued an apology for the profanity she used that night and the embarrassment the incident caused to friends and family, as well as distracting from her work on the School Board. Bernard, whose term ends in 2022, previously served as the school boards vice president, WAFB-TV reported. For more information, please see our EBR School system is 81% Black. We play a video that has now gone viral from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where community activist Gary Chambers Jr. calls out members of the Lee High School school board for their racism during a June . (AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman) #KeepPushing share and send an email. June 8. Thank you Mr. The Baton Rouge School Board is now reportedly calling for her resignation. The naming of schools after Confederate heroes is rooted in history a history of intimidation, degradation, and racism against Black people in America, they wrote. Privacy Policy. Connie needs to resign. Three weeks after the incident, Bernard, however, resigned from her position as vice president of the board. Speak truth to power, stand on your convictions, let NONE of them slide, and #KeepPushing. We elect them to VOTE THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE. Weve had enough of her poor leadership. />, If reading a racist were TWO people, they would be Baton Rouge activist Gary Chambers Jr. and author/activist Kimberly Jones. You have permission to edit this article. We are either tearing down white supremacy or we arent. Bernard made no mention of the controversial video in which she was seen shouting at a group of high school students attending a house party. A post shared by Gary Chambers (@garychambersjr) on Jun 22, 2020 at 2:47pm PDT. The top two candidates, Republican Connie Bernard and Democrat Katie Kennison are headed for the run-off in December. From the moment he walked up to the podium, you already KNEW it was about to be some ish. You sit your arrogant self in here and sit there shopping while the pain and hurt of the people of this community is on display, Chambers said. "There are few figures in American history that are more divisive, hypocritical and demoralizing than Robert E. Lee, a native of the state of Virginia, not Louisiana," the June 9 letter said. A Louisiana man verbally laid into a local school board member in a caught-on-camera confrontation after she was busted shopping online during a hearing to rename a school dubbed in honor of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee. He noted that 81% of the school system's 42,334 students identify as Black or African American. Now, a few people who've recently gone viral for calling racism out. Speak truth to power, stand on your convictions, let NONE of them slide, and #KeepPushing. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Morning sunshine will turn to mostly cloudy skies, with a few possible showers forming, as a cold front approaches the area // <! She said she knocked on the door and knows the owners of the home, whom she called close personal friends.. [CDATA[ // &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;! An East Baton Rouge Parish School Board member landed in hot water Friday after a confrontation involving a party at a neighbor's home. Lee, in the meantime, stood by, and frequently enjoined (a county constable) to lay it on well, an injunction which he did not fail to heed; not satisfied with simply lacerating our naked flesh, Gen. Lee then ordered the overseer to thoroughly wash our backs with brine, which was done, Norris said in the account. He was a horrible person who helped cause the death of thousands of Americans to uphold the rights of states to keep African people enslaved in America. Cher Spotted Holding Hands With Amber Roses Ex/Sons Father Alexander AE Edwards, Cher Hints At Being 'In Love' On Twitter, Fab Mama-To-Be Rihanna Spotted Shopping For Baby Clothes In Target, Fans Notice Shes Holding A Dress, BOO'D UP OR NAH? According to WAFB-TV, board members cannot legally vote to remove a member, but a voter. "Not one part of what I saw or what I heard, had anything to do with putting the children first," Tony Jones said. He's BEEN on her a** for comments she made in support of keeping the name of the high school. Chambers aint with the bull jive!! Weve got work to do, #KeepPushing and #LetsGoHigher. She was shopping while citizens were speaking about changing the name of Lee High. 854K subscribers A three-minute video of activist Gary Chambers berating and calling for the resignation of East Baton Rouge Parish School Board member Connie Bernard has gone viral.. Its unfortunate that the comments that you made were just extremely tone-deaf to our collective community, extremely tone-deaf to the students of our district, and I would be remiss if I didnt stand up to that, Tremelle Howard, the vice president of the school board, told Bernard. src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=2501894830055909&ev=PageView&noscript=1" [CDATA[ // ]]&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; // ]]&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; // ]]&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; // ]]&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; // ]]&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; // ]]&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; // ]]&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; // ]]&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; // ]]&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; // ]]&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; // ]]&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; // ]]&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; // ]]&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; // ]]&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; // ]]&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; // ]]&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; // ]]&amp;amp;amp;gt; // ]]&amp;amp;gt; // ]]&gt; And this isn't the first time Gary has called Connie out. voters in Bernard's southeast Baton Rouge District 8 . Bernard, who did not respond to CNNs request for comment, told The Advocate on Friday that what people saw on her laptop was not her shopping, but rather a pop-up ad that she failed to close. [CDATA[ // &amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;! Brianna Chambers, Cox Media Group National Content Desk, Elected official accused of shopping online during school board meeting, Connie Bernard (Image via East Baton Rouge Parish School System), KIRO 7 News Seattle facebook feed(Opens a new window), KIRO 7 News Seattle twitter feed(Opens a new window), KIRO 7 News Seattle youtube feed(Opens a new window), agrees with New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, recommended a few black historical figures, Multiple-vehicle collision completely blocks westbound I-90 near Issaquah, Seattle Kraken defeat Colorado Avalanche in Game 7 of Round 1 of Stanley Cup playoffs, Redfin says Seattle ranks 6th among metro areas being abandoned by homebuyers, Man accused of raping same woman he was convicted of assaulting 5 years ago, Washington State Patrol responds to 5-car wrong-way crash in Milton. Gary Chambers Jr. and Kimberly Jones served up MASTERCLASSES on how to CHECK these racists. [CDATA[ // &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;! She caused something of an uproar earlier this year when she. He better SAYTHAT! Man shot to death outside apartment complex Man shot to death outside apartment complex at Groom Road and Sherron Avenue; police asking public for help. East Baton Rouge School Board member Connie Bernard shown during an altercation with neighbors August 10, 2018 (screenshot from video). And were done begging you to do whats right.. We know things usually get worse before they get better, but sheesh. If you think her actions are unacceptable send an email to the members of the board encouraging Connie to resign. East Baton Rouge Parish school system is 80% Black and Bernard believes we should keep a school named after a man who fought to keep slavery. Candidate Connie Bernard announced today she wants to keep that seat, despite withdrawing from the race back in September. Use your voice to let EBR Schools know its time for change. Gary also called out black leaders who don't make decisions in the best interest of black people: We dont elect people to vote their conscious. I had intended to get up here and talk about how racist Robert E. Lee was, but Im going to talk about you, Connie. Chambers, who recommended a few black historical figures, said he stands by his decision to address Bernard at Thursdays meeting and hopes that she will resign from her position on the board. [CDATA[ announced it was calling for Bernard to step down. East Baton Rouge School Board member Connie Bernard shown during an altercation with neighbors August 10, 2018 (screenshot from video). I promise to be part of the solution and to listen to the concerns of all members of our community. BATON ROUGE - For the second straight weekend, the LSU baseball team completed the sweep. BATON ROUGE, La. School board member Michael Gaudet told WBRZ in a statement Monday that Bernard's actions showed "disinterest and apathy," and that he plans to submit a proposal requiring board members to take a race education course. BATON ROUGE - A man was taken to the hospital after being stabbed by his adult son on Sunday afternoon. A Change.org petition urging Bernard to resign garnered more than 7,200 signatures as of Sunday afternoon. Activist Gary Chambers forcefully tore into board member Connie Bernard at Thursday's East Baton Rouge Parish School Board meeting during a discussion on whether to rename the school. And you should resign. Mr. Howard said if Connie does not resign, volunteers will go door to door in her district to get enough signatures from her constituents to have her removed from office. She was shopping while citizens were speaking about changing the name of Lee High. #KeepPushing, A post shared by Gary Chambers (@garychambersjr) on Jun 22, 2020 at 1:59pm PDT. // &lt;! Most of the school board members dont even have as much education as this woman and they voted for a white woman with less skills to lead a school district that is 81% Black. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. To move forward, we must honestly acknowledge the failings of the past and listen to those who feel marginalized.. Activist Gary Chambers addresses the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board on June 18, 2020. Bernard submitted a statement to ABC affiliate station WBRZ in Baton Rouge on Friday regarding her comments on Lee. The school changed its name from Robert E. Lee High School in 2016. [CDATA[ // &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;! I believe that Connie Bernard spent $3 after she dropped out and Kennison spent a grand total of zero. A post shared by Gary Chambers (@garychambersjr) on Jun 19, 2020 at 12:03pm PDT. Mr. When we dont confront elected officials we give them permission to disrespect us and to devalue us. "Thursday evening was over 400 years of pain and hurt on display, and our colleague decided to ignore the cry of our community and totally misrepresent us as a school board.". Sitting over there shopping while were talking about Robert E. Lee. You should walk out of here and resign and never come back because you are the example of racism in this community, Chambers said. Ultimately, the school board resolution was unanimously approved, with all nine members, including Bernard, voting in favor, according to the meetings minutes. Voting your conscious suggest they know better than us, and its wrong. I love US for real. Bernard was first elected to the board in 2010 and is in her third term representing south Baton Rouges District 8. Man taken to hospital after being stabbed Maurepas man killed in Livingston Parish motorcycle No. FAB FLIX OF THE DAY: THURSDAY, APRIL 27TH! The school board meeting ended with Connie the Coward School Board member storming out after that verbal lashing. Also let Connie know its time for her to resign. In District 8, three candidates. We elect them to vote the will of the people. Her opponent Democrat Katie Kennison said in a statement: Im grateful for everyone who got out there and voted yesterday. dtatman@ebrschools.org, cbernard@ebrschools.org, mgaudet@ebrschools.org, jdyason@ebrschools.org, ewarejackson@ebrschools.org, dcollins1@ebrschools.org, thoward4@ebrschools.org, dlanus@ebrschools.org, mbellue@ebrschools.org. . At a press briefing Monday afternoon, two board members joined Howard and Lanus in asking for her immediate resignation. The only thing I had issue determining from my sight was if it was a short dress or nightware.. Baton Rouge School Board member Connie Bernard's lost the confidence of her colleagues after she was called out for ignoring an intense discussion about race -- and that's A-OK with the guy who dragged her in the first place. When they dont vote the will of the people we should send them home. [CDATA[ // &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;! However, days before the hearing, board member Connie Bernard said she wanted to keep the name to honor the schools legacy. Do you hear me. This is a picture of you shopping while were talking about racism in history in this country., Confederate statues are coming down following George Floyd's death. BATON ROUGE, La. Although the school board cannot remove Bernard, they can pressure her into resigning. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? I told Connie Bernard to her face she needed to resign from the East Baton Rouge School board. He was sharing his unfiltered and uncut opinions in support of changing the name of a high school named after Confederate general Robert E. Lee in the district after he caught her shopping . Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. // &amp;lt;! In Baton Rogue, where more than 50% of residents are black, many people have criticized the name, saying it memorializes a man who owned hundreds of slaves. How do I know if I have a cold, the flu or COVID-19? We got work to do. LSU won 32-31 in overtime. The #1 subreddit for all things relating to Baton Rouge, Louisiana!