This comes after a controversial social media post by a school board member is now sparking outrage, calls for resignation, and a growing push for accountability.
Tensions are rising in Gastonia with dozens planning to flood the next school board meeting.
Claire Watson’s emotions were raw and unfiltered.
“It makes me want to cry because most of these people claim to be Christians,” Watson said.
Watson is a Gaston County school who is boiling with frustration stemming from a now-deleted Facebook post made by Gaston County school board member Tod Kinlaw.
“His post is absolutely disgusting it does not align with Christ,” Watson said.
In the post, Kinlaw wrote: โIslam is a satanic death cult. Allah is Satan. Muhammed is a false prophet.โ
Though the post was taken down, screenshots quickly spread fueling backlash and concern among parents and community leaders too.
“If there’s no accountability to this freedom how, where, where can you ever draw a line of accountability,” NAACP Gastonia branch president Sean Bates said.
Bates called the comments discriminatory and demanding action.
“They know they are supposed to represent everybody, they’re supposed to put their own beliefs to the side in order to do what is best for the overall public and the overall good of these students,” Bates said.
The outrage is also drawing a strong response from the Charlotte Muslim Caucus. They said this kind of rhetoric is unacceptable from any public official, especially one entrusted with serving all students.
“They donโt know how to love and that bothers me really bad,” Watson said.
Community members and leaders are now calling for Kinlaw to resign. Theyโre planning to pack the next Gaston County Schools board meeting, demanding their voices be heard.
“There’s a lot of concern in the community right now,” Bates said.
WCNC reached out to Kinlaw and did not get a response.
The next Gaston County Schools board meeting is April 20.
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