SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — The Natomas Unified School District said it is taking steps to fire the teacher placed on paid leave after allegedly being caught on video claiming he keeps an Antifa flag in his classroom and encourages students to go to protests.
The district said it is taking the legally required next steps to place the teacher on unpaid leave and remove him from the staff.
Right-wing organization Project Veritas filmed and edited the video they say shows Inderkum High School government teacher Gabriel Gipe having a controversial conversation off-campus.
“I have 180 days to turn them into revolutionaries,” Gipe allegedly said in the video, and later continued, “I have an Antifa flag on my wall. A student complained about that and said it made them feel uncomfortable. Well, it’s meant to make fascists feel uncomfortable, I don’t know what to tell you.”
Here is the video of the undercover conversation.
Parents showed up tonight at the Natomas Unified School District board meeting and expressed their opinions. Here is a typical parent.
Natomas Unified School District issued a statement, saying it was aware of the video and was looking into it. “We understand that parents and Natomas community members have expressed their concern about the contents of this video,” the statement read, in part. “We respect and recognize their expressions of concern. Natomas Unified, as always, will look into this matter and take any appropriate actions as necessary. District policy explicitly states, ‘Whenever civic education includes topics that may be controversial due to political beliefs or other influences, instruction shall be presented in a balanced manner that does not promote any particular viewpoint.’ That is always the expectation.”
“Sadly, a number of emails have come in from outside our community that express hate and threats,” the statement added. “There is sad irony in that outsiders are expressing displeasure towards the individual teacher while also using intense vulgarity, hate speech and threats of violence.”
In other words, the school board is promising to “look into it” and “take appropriate action”, so in the meanwhile, we will paint those concerned in the worst possible light. School board, just do your damn job for a change!
