Local residents are speaking out after a school board member’s “hateful and discriminatory” comments on social media.
Earlier this month, Madison County School Board member Charlie Sheads made a post regarding the election of Muslims Zohran Mamdani as the mayor of New York City and Ghazala Hashmi as the lieutenant governor of Virginia referencing Sept. 11 and questioning why people would vote for them. When others took issue with the post, Sheads doubled down stating Muslims hate America, hate Christians and would kill if and when given the opportunity, also opting to mention affirmative action in reference to Blacks.
In a prepared statement, NAACP Culpeper Branch President Kaleb Hackley said the post and comments were “hateful and discriminatory rhetoric,” the type that has been known to fuel hostility, vandalism and violence against people of color including Black and Muslim communities.
“As someone entrusted with shaping policy, guiding curriculum and advocating for the youth of Madison County, this type of language and behavior is completely unacceptable and stands in direct contradiction to the priorities outlined by Madison County Public Schools,” Hackley said.
He asked that the board of supervisors censure Sheads and called on the school board to consider appropriate action under its board code of conduct.
“The students and families of Madison County deserve leadership that reflects the values of respect, inclusion and integrity,” Hackley said. “Words have power and those in positions of authority must be held to the highest standards of conduct. We urge the board of supervisors and the school board to take swift and transparent action to ensure that every child in Madison County feels safe, valued and represented.”
During the Nov. 12 board of supervisors meeting, several residents spoke about the situation.
NAACP member Cindy Taylor said the rhetoric is not only hateful and dangerous, it also impacts families and businesses who are considering locating in the county.
“You are not going to get families to move in here and businesses to come here when elected officials can say hurtful, dangerous things and you say nothing,” she said. Taylor suggested having an interfaith event in the county as a response to the “toxic nonsense” to celebrate diversity, differences and being neighbors in the community.
Pastor Frank Lewis took particular issue with a negative comment regarding Black achievement and said it’s disturbing to have elected officials in the county who think on that level.
“That’s not what we stand for,” he said. “We want a community where we can all work together, befriend one another and not tear down each other.”
Pediatrician Patricia Fry said it’s reprehensible for someone to vilify an entire community of people solely based on their religion.
“You cannot stand up as an official and say blatantly that a whole community of people is evil and dangerous,” she said. “That in itself is dangerous and goes beyond freedom of speech.”
Leah Curtum said everyone has a right to their opinion and called the situation “cancel culture.”
Supervisors agreed that Sheads was exercising his freedom of speech, but said they didn’t agree with the posts.
“I do agree that it’s a First Amendment right,” Yowell said, “but now we know who we’re dealing with. I don’t agree with the vitriol he’s put out there. Our county is better than that.”
Chairman Clay Jackson said he was bothered the posts were being publicized, taking away from the good things about Madison and said it seems to be like responding to a bully. He encouraged people to attend the next school board meeting and express their concerns, noting no one spoke at the school board’s meeting held two days prior.
Yowell added that the board of supervisors and school board are separate government entities and while the supervisors control the school board’s budget, they have no control beyond it.
In a statement released on social media, the Madison County School Board said it was aware of the comments made by Sheads and the concerns of community members.
“The posts and comments that broadly disparage a religious group and others are those of the individual member and are not the comments or views of the school board,” board officials said. “The posts and comments are not aligned with school board policy and priorities and its commitment to create a welcoming and respectful environment for all members of our school community.”
