Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

General Discussion

Showing Original Post only (View all)

BlueWaveNeverEnd

(8,112 posts)
Fri Apr 19, 2024, 12:46 AM Apr 19

protestors show up at Oklahoma Ryan Walters "town hall" [View all]

Anti-Woke Oklahoma Schools Boss’ Event Labeled a ‘PR Stunt’

Oklahoma schools boss Ryan Walters kicked off his talk at a state university on Wednesday night by calling on people to “never back down to a woke mob.”

But less than 15 minutes later, Walters seemed to do just that as hecklers in the audience shouted over his remarks.
------------------------

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/anti-woke-oklahoma-schools-boss-event-labeled-a-pr-stunt/ar-AA1ng9OY

On Wednesday morning, a TUPSA college field rep sent an email to students who RSVP’d to what was advertised as a “town hall.” But the message noted that “Ryan will be giving a 20 to 30-minute speech with questions at the end if time permits.”

“So that’s not a town hall and pretty undemocratic for it to be presented that way,” Farrow told The Daily Beast, adding that TPUSA instead had certain people ask prepared questions.

“We extensively prepared to have a dialogue, but he was unwilling to hear us out,” she said.

That changed protesters' original plans, which included asking researched questions about Ryan’s policies. They weren’t planning on staging any disruption until they learned the “town hall” was actually just a right-wing lecture.

“We have questions about the way that he is operating as state superintendent, because that is taxpayer dollars from all of us,” she said.

According to News 4, more than 100 people showed up to the lecture hall to see Walters, who doesn’t often engage in Q&As with the general public.

Walking back and forth across the room, Walters told TPUSA supporters of the activists, “You conservatives scare them so bad, they are so scared to hear from you that they will shout you down. They will scream hysterically.”

“Conservatives, this is what winning looks like,” added Walters, 38, a former high school history teacher who’s aligned himself with far-right causes including the extremist group Moms for Liberty since taking office in 2023.

Despite the clamor, Walters took an opportunity to spew his us-versus-them discourse.

6 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»protestors show up at Okl...