Racist, Antisemitic KKK Flyers Rebuked By Fairfax School Leaders

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — A racist flyer, purportedly from the KKK, was distributed to homes in the Springfield and Sully districts earlier this week. The flyer, which was directed at members of the Fairfax County School Board, contained racist, homophobic, and antisemitic language.

Signed by "Loyal White Knights," the flyer also included information about a 24/7 hotline and website.

School board member Stella Pekarsky, who represents the Sully District, said in a Facebook post on Wednesday the flyer had been distributed throughout her neighborhood.

"Hate and bigotry exist in our society, but I was shocked when they made their appearance in my own beloved community today," she said. "YES — I will stand in solidarity with our Jewish students, our LGBTQ students, and any students that are marginalized, targeted, and made to feel as if they are less than or not valued. I will continue the work of creating a system where we advance the academic and socio-emotional outcomes of ALL students. I strongly believe this goal is shared by many in my community, as well."

School board member Laura Jane Cohen (Springfield) also posted about the flyers on Facebook Wednesday.

"I grew up in the shadow of the KKK," she said. "I wasn’t afraid of them then and I am not now. I will continue to stand up for ALL our students and staff. Wherever we fall on the political spectrum, we must come together to speak out against this hate. Antisemitism, homophobia, and racism, must have no home here."

Cohen went on to add that Fairfax County Police, the FBI, and the Anti-Defamation League had been notified about the flyers.

"Right-wing groups in Fairfax County and across the country have been spewing nonsense about the indoctrination of our children in schools and this is the result," Chairman Bryan Graham of the Fairfax County Democratic Committee said, in a statement. "We should not shy away from the bad parts of our history, which notably include the lynchings of Black men by white nationalist groups like the KKK."

In a statement on Thursday, Karen T. Camplin, president of the Fairfax County NAACP, also denounced the racist, antisemitic and homophobic flyers aimed at the school board.

"This shameful flyer is a reminder of the hatred that still exists within our country today," she said. "We call upon the members of our communities to continue to denounce and stand up to hateful rhetoric against marginalized communities. The NAACP stands for equality for all and we encourage the community to speak out against hatred."

Fairfax County Public Schools released the following statement Thursday:

"FCPS is aware of the hateful flyers that have been appearing both on social media and placed around the community earlier this week. We want to make clear that we believe every person deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. FCPS strives to create an environment where every student, parent, teacher, employee, community member and Board member feels welcome in our schools, and the sentiments expressed in these flyers have no place within FCPS or our community."

Earlier this year, school board member-at-large Abrar Omeish faced criticism after she tweeted her opposition to the Israeli government's treatment of Palestinians.

In the March 13 tweet celebrating Eid, Omeish wrote: "Hurts my heart to celebrate while Israel kills Palestinians & desecrates the Holy Land right now. Apartheid & colonization were wrong yesterday and will be today, here and there. May justice + truth prevail."

After Omeish received threats and calls for her resignation, Fairfax County residents rallied outside a school board meeting last month to show their support for her.

On Thursday night, Fairfax Democrats will be rallying outside the school board meeting again to express their support for students, teachers, staff members, and decision makers in Fairfax County Public Schools. The rally will take place 6 p.m., at Luther Jackson Middle School, 3020 Gallows Road, Falls Church.

Related:

• Support After Tweet About Israel Grows For School Board Member
• Letter To The Editor: In Support Of School Board's Abrar Omeish