At first glance, the idea seems reasonable enough: Carmel Against Racial Injustice.
Okay, sure. After all, what kind of a horrific human being would be for racial injustice? The idea that someone should benefit or suffer negative consequences in 21st century America as a result of their race rather than the choices they make is utterly reprehensible.
The problem is that Carmel Against Racial Injustice (CARI) is not rooted in principles that reflect a belief in the equality of opportunity. CARI is an anti-racism organization – a racist idea in its own right – that has chosen to align itself with an anti-capitalist group called Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ).
The Background:
Organizers for CARI want teachers at Carmel High School to teach anti-racism after allegedly being contacted by numerous students who claim they’ve been subjected to discrimination and overtly racist threats online.
Friday night, CARI posted a call to action on Facebook, detailing some of the incidents students said they have experienced.
Carmella Sparrow with CARI told WTHR in Indianapolis that “students are being called slaves” and the “n-word is being used flippantly throughout the buildings.”
Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ):
According to their website, SURJ is an organization that believes “Capitalism leverages the ableism that manifests throughout all systems of oppression used to ensure control of the labour and resources needed to maintain dominance domestically and beyond.”
Interestingly, the staff and leadership team at SURJ are comprised of mostly white women, and at least one person connected with the fundraising arm of the group, Jasmin Oppenheimer, is associated with the New York City Democratic Socialists of America.
WIBC host Tony Katz discussed Carmel Against Racial Injustice and their association with Showing Up for Racial Justice on his morning show Monday.
Katz:
“I question whether parents are going to like the idea that their kids – black, white, Asian, or Hispanic – are being taught that they’re guilty of something. Or is that just the white kids?
“This is what we want teachers to teach, that you’re guilty because of the color of your skin? Because we should all oppose racism, but anti-racism IS racism.”
Click below to hear Tony’s full commentary.
