Barbara Bush An 'Amazing Racist,' Fresno State Professor Says

FRESNO, CA — Former first lady Barbara Bush was an "amazing racist" who, along with her husband, former President George H. W. Bush, raised a war criminal. That's according to Randa Jarrar, an English professor at California State University, Fresno.

Jarrar, whose Twitter account is private, tweeted around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday: "Barbara Bush was a generous and smart and amazing racist who, along with her husband, raised a war criminal. F--- outta here with your nice words."

Barbara Bush died at her Houston home on Tuesday evening at the age of 92. Jarrar's tweet came a couple hours later.

Now, Fresno State is investigating, the university provost Lynnette Zelezny said during a press conference on Wednesday. Zelezny called the remarks "disrespectful" and said she did not agree that Jarrar, who is tenured, can't be sacked.

According to the Fresno Bee, Jarrar received thousands of replies, many from people upset with her.

The controversial tweet prompted university President Joseph Castro to distance his institution from Jarrar's remark. He issued a statement saying her views don't reflect Fresno State's.

"We share the deep concerns expressed by others over the personal comments made today by Professor Randa Jarrar, a professor in the English Department at Fresno State. Her statements were made as a private citizen not as a representative of Fresno State."

Castro added: "Professor Jarrar's expressed personal views and commentary are obviously contrary to the core values of our University, which include respect and empathy for individuals with divergent points of view, and a sincere commitment to mutual understanding and progress."

Statement by @Fresno_State President @JosephICastro regarding tweets made today by a faculty member: pic.twitter.com/h3ZbQyMmxd
— Fresno State (@Fresno_State) April 18, 2018

Jarrar says she's an Arab-American and a Muslim-American woman. She said she is tenured and earns $100,000 a year.

“I will never be fired,” she tweeted.

In a separate tweet, Jarrar said those interested in seeing what it's like being an Arab-American and Muslim-American woman should look at "the racists going crazy" in her mentions.

In a short video posted on YouTube, Jarrar, speaking at an Asian-American writer's workshop, Jarrar talks about Donald Trump's views on immigration and compares it to a 1920s migration act that heavily restricted immigration. She says it's a "fantasy" that people can ban other people or prevent them from coming together.

Warning: The video contains strong language and views.

Photo credit: Screenshot Google Maps