For Immediate Release

August 24, 2021

SAN DIEGO, CA -- August 24, 2021- On August 19th, upon over two hours of public comments and deliberations, the Coronado Unified School District (CUSD) Board decided to revise its public statement on the tortilla-throwing incident and rescind its prior association of the incident with racism. During the same meeting, four CUSD board members also officially spoke against critical race theory (CRT) and the No Place for Hate (NPFH) curriculum as a vehicle of CRT in the District. Californians for Equal Rights Foundation (CFER) commends parents and community members of Coronado for uniting, organizing and facilitating this encouraging development.

On June 19th, 2021, a championship basketball match between Coronado High School and Escondido's Orange Glenn High School ended with those on the Coronado side throwing tortillas at the Orange Glenn athletes. Despite rising evidence showing the instigator's intent to manufacture racial strife and advance an ideological agenda, the CUSD governing board rushed to placate race-obsessed ideologues. The board fired the basketball team coach, issued a public apology to condemn "racism, classism, and colorism," and accelerated promoting the NPFH curriculum.

"While we are pleased that the board corrected their statement, in a 3-2 vote, we wish that the initial apology from June had been appropriate and had not condemned our boys and community as 'racist, classist, colorist and perpetrators' because there was never any evidence to support such claims," commented Mr. Robert Couts, a CUSD basketball parent. "I think most, if not all, of the post-game public outrage would have been avoided if our trustees would have followed established protocols. Critical Race Theory teaches that racism takes place in every occurrence and interaction. It seems clear to me that this is how the board reached their original conclusion."

Concerned parents and citizens in Coronado have mobilized to challenge the harmful virtue-signaling and over-the-top racial politics. "We the Parents Coronado," the well-organized group leading the campaign for unity and accountability in Coronado, has put together rallies, public comments and outreach to proactively engage Coronado's public officials. Their effective movement culminated in the victory on August 24th. They were joined by Ms. Stacy Keszei, CUSD Board Member who has stood up against racial scapegoating and Dr. Stuart Hurlbert, Professor of Biology Emeritus at SDSU and CFER board member, who has contributed by writing open letters to CUSD policymakers and stakeholders. Dr. Hurlbert also conducted rigorous research to demonstrate NPFH's linkages to CRT. 

CFER will continue to support Coronado parents by providing in-depth research and outreach insights, as the battle against CRT is still ongoing.

Mr. Jim Fabiszak, Executive Director of We the Parents Coronado, will attend our 08/28 Rally for Unity, as a featured speaker to share his experience and hope. Frank Xu, president of CFER, spoke passionately at the August 19 CUSD board meeting.