A Louisana school district is being protested and is even receiving death threats after a teacher was ejected from a school board meeting and arrested after challenging the board’s decision to give the superintendent a raise.
Teacher Deyshia Hargrave, who was once deemed Teacher of the Year, questioned why the Vermilion Parish School Board was granting Superintendent Jerome Puyau a salary increase.
Puyau’s salary would increase from $110,190 to $140,188 with incentive targets that could add a 3 percent raise each year if bonus targets are met, according to CNN.
She said it was unconscionable that he receive a raise when teachers are the ones responsible for achieving targets and have to deal with growing class sizes and other requirements despit3e the fact that they haven’t gotten raises themselves in more than a decade.
“Superintendent, how are you going to take a raise when classes have grown from 21 to 29 students?” Hargrave asked during the meeting. “And we have not gotten raises. How are you going to take that money, because it is basically taking it out of the pockets of teachers.”
Despite the fact that she was called on twice two speak during the meeting, the school’s hired city marshal forced her to leave.
After a few words, Hargrave obliged. Once the two were in the hall, he tossed her to the ground and handcuffed her. He then accused her of resisting arrest.
“I’m am not! You just pushed me to the floor!” Hargrave said while being lead out of the building and into a squad car. “I am way smaller than you!”
Many of those who were in attendance were appalled. The officer then threatened to arrest someone else while they were in the parking lot.
The American Civil Liberties Union, who called the incident “unacceptable” is investigating the incident.
Hargrave was arrested, though the school district decided not to press charges. CBS has reported that more than 100 people held signs and rallied to protest the events in the rain on Thursday. Fellow teachers also wore black t-shirts that read #standbydeyshia.
Hargrave said that Vermilion School Board President Anthony Fontana should resign. She didn’t comment on any discipline for Deputy City Marshal Reggie Hilts who cuffed her but did say that he needs more training.
“We’ll see how it goes,” she said in regards to suing the school district. “But I clearly feel my First Amendment rights were violated, and I feel like, yeah, there will be a lawsuit filed for that.”
Fontana told USA Today that the officer who arrested Hargrave acted appropriately.
“His job is to make sure we have an orderly meeting,” said Fontana. “He knows what the law is. He knows what our policy is. … The officer did exactly what he is supposed to do.”
You watch the disturbing video of her arrest int he video below.
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