While in Loudoun County, Va. – where equitable and inclusive education has become a key issue in a governor’s race – Former Vice President Mike Pence praised parents who oppose instruction about institutional racism.
Republican candidate Glenn Youngkin agrees with Pence, who served as vice president under Republican Donald Trump, on the issue. His Democrat challenger Terry McAuliffe, who served as Virginia's governor from 2014 to 2018, stands on the other side. Polls show the two candidates are neck in neck with election day looming on Tuesday.
Their fight over schools has included an argument over whether Nobel laurate Toni Morrison’s 1987 novel “Beloved” should be taught in schools, said the Associated Press.
Pence included his remarks about race instruction in a speech he gave Thursday at Patrick Henry College, a Christian university about 50 miles outside Washington in Loudoun County. Pence told the crowd of hundreds gathered in the school’s gymnasium that “the eyes of the nation are on Loudoun County,” according to the AP.
“Children as young as kindergarten are being taught to be ashamed of their skin color,” Pence said, adding that “critical race theory is nothing more than state-sponsored racism” and a way to “indoctrinate our youth into radical, left-wing ideology.”
Critical race theory is an academic concept that is usually found in college classrooms rather than elementary schools. However, parents confused and concerned about the theory have been vocal school board meetings this year.
During his trip to Patrick Henry College, Pence and others said they heard anecdotes about “young kids being made to feel bad about being white,” said the AP. The former vice president also “repeatedly chided” McAuliffe for supporting critical race theory.
Though he did not mention Youngkin’s name, many of Pence’s criticisms were similar to the candidate’s campaign rhetoric.
Recently, Youngkin has also frequently mentioned allegations of sexual assault reportedly committed by a student at two different Loudon County high schools. After the father of the first victim was arrested in an altercation with another parent at a school board meeting discussing transgender policy the cases were widely reported in conservative media.
Pence, who the AP said might be considering a presidential run in 2014, also mentioned the case.
“To think those crimes happened because some adults cared more about politics than the well-being of our kids,” he said.
“Mike Pence peddling these divisive, hateful, right-wing lies shows that he and Glenn have more in common than their complete and total allegiance to Donald Trump,” McAuliffe spokeswoman Christina Freundlich said of the comments.
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