Virginia Beach Democrats Oppose Ending Discrimination in Schools
by Victoria Manning
Republicans vote to uphold civil rights laws by committing to end DEI.
On April 8th, the Virginia Beach School Board adopted a resolution with a 6-3 vote committing to end discriminatory diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices. They must still vote to formally remove DEI policies at a future meeting. The Democrats on the board opposed ending discriminatory equity practices in schools with one member, Alveta Green, doubling down and belittling students of "European descent." Not only is the DEI agenda a violation of civil rights laws, it's also harmful to academic progress for all students.
According to the American Civil Liberties Union, it's illegal discrimination "if a person or a company intentionally treats you differently based on your race, ethnicity, or national origin." That's exactly what has been happening in educational institutions across the nation in the name of "equity"—including in Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS).
On April 22, the Virginia Beach School Board will hold their next meeting. Far-left activists are already assembling to attend and oppose anti-discrimination laws from being enforced. Those opposed to racist, discriminatory, equity policies can email the school board at schoolboard@vbcpsboard.com and show up to the meeting at 6:00pm. Details can be found on the district's website.
The Department of Education has taken a firm stand against woke policies, warning districts a lack of compliance with their updated standards could jeopardize their funding. Just a few examples of discriminatory practices in VBCPS that could cost the school district a loss of $75 million in federal funding:
Employment based on race—the "Equity Dashboard" promotes hiring a diverse workforce and measures hiring data based on race. In other words, racial quotas.
The "Educational Equity" policy commits to a "learning and work environment where diversity is valued and used toward achieving positive academic and social outcomes."
Equity observances: The DEI calendar promoted observances of some racial/ethnic groups and some religious groups but not all groups, which is discriminatory. This calendar was removed after the recent school board vote.
Online student registration requires parents to enter ethnicity and race and limits racial choices on the form. VBCPS is violating Virginia Law that requires the option of "other" for any designation of race (a law signed by a Democrat governor in 2018).
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination based on race, color, and national origin in "any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance." Yet Virginia Beach Democrats oppose civil rights laws and instead push to uphold discriminatory practices.
Virginia Beach Democrat Activists Double Down on Racism
During her discriminatory speech describing students based on racial groups, school board member Alveta Green called the removal of DEI "offensive and intended to interrupt student academic process" and it will "disrupt the progress" of students who have "demonstrated success." Ms. Green should take a look at the data that proves otherwise.
Democrats held super-majority control of the Virginia Beach School Board from 2012-2023. Republicans only gained a tight majority in 2024 and have just started to undo the harmful equity policies put in place over the last decade. Democrats are responsible for these outcomes.
Leftists like Alveta Green treat children who don't fit into a preferred "minority" racial category as if they're privileged. Plenty of white children face poverty, abuse, lack of parental involvement, and more. Yet, Green pushes the equity agenda of the previous DEI director of Virginia Beach schools who said: "we have to get to a place in Virginia Beach where our teachers and our leaders and our school board and our viewing public understand that when we talk about privilege . . . it's about acknowledging what it is, the rights that you have solely because of the color of your skin."
In her comments, Green claimed the federal government was extorting money from schools to implement their agenda. Republican School Board Member David Culpepper called out the hypocrisy and asserted the Democrat "hyperbole was off the hook." He said,
I'm entertained by the fact that people [Democrats] have suddenly woken up to the fact that the federal Department of Education extorts localities, that's been going on for 50 years and apparently, it's only a problem now because it's demanding something some people don't like.
It's time to get back to a society that values people based upon the content of their character rather than the color of their skin. It's time to stop judging and tracking students and employees based on their assumed racial categories.
Americans are tired of the division caused by the persistent "white privilege" narrative from the far left. Republicans on the Virginia Beach School Board want to end racist, discriminatory practices, while Democrats actively resist. Show up on April 22nd or send an email and stand with the right-minded members of the school board to end discrimination in schools.
Victoria Manning is a Senior Investigative Researcher for Restoration News specializing in education freedom, abortion, and immigration, and the author of Behind the Wall of Government Schools. Victoria served 8 years as an elected school board member with a master’s degree in law. She also brings the perspective of a military spouse and mother to her reporting.
