Written for Bacon’s Rebellion by James A. Bacon

The rhetoric is getting ugly out there, folks.

In a counter-protest (against those protesting the enactment of admissions policies that discriminate against Asian-American students) at the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, Michelle Leete, an official with the Fairfax County NAACP and state and district PTAs, said the following:

So let’s meet and remain steadfast in speaking truth, tearing down double standards, and refuting double talk. Let’s not allow any double downing on lies. Let’s prepare our children for a world they deserve. Let’s deny this off-key band of people that are anti-education, anti-teacher, anti-equity, anti-history, anti-racial reckoning, anti-opportunities, anti-help people, anti-diversity, anti-platform, anti-science, anti-change agent, anti-social justice, anti-healthcare, anti-worker, anti-LGBTQ+, anti-children, anti-healthcare, anti-worker, anti-environment, anti-admissions policy change, anti-inclusion, anti-live-and-let live people.

Then came the line that that triggered applause from the overwhelmingly woke White audience:

Let them die.

Asra Nomani, an Indian-born activist and protest leader, responded to The Daily Wire as follows:

What we heard tonight was hate speech, pure and simple. It was shocking that anyone would cheer and applaud a call to violence… Ironically, her hateful, intolerant words are a perfect illustration of the divisive ideology of critical race theory in action. In the name of tolerance, it preaches intolerance and is a betrayal of all values of humanity and decency.

Maybe it’s time to revisit that wave of fabricated “anti-Asian hate crimes” stories and examine where the anti-Asian hate is coming from.

As far as I can tell, not a single Virginia media outlet covered the speech. The Washington Post did run an article about a decision by Fairfax County school superintendent Scott S. Brabrand to leave at the end of the contract — but nothing about Leete’s quote. As the Washington Post tag-line says, “Democracy Dies in Darkness.”

Yes, that’s true. And the Post is turning out the lights.