Arkansas school board member pictured in blackface urged to resign (PHOTO)
An elected board member of the Blevins School District in Arkansas has apologized after a recent Halloween photo of himself wearing blackface began circulating on social media.
The man pictured in blackface and carrying a sign that read “blak [sic] lives matter” was identified by superintendent Billy Lee as school board member Ted Bonner.
An elected official from the Blevins School District is now under scrutiny after pictures surfaced of him wearing blackface. pic.twitter.com/qe15xECdBl
— Sarafina Brooks (@KATVSarafina) November 15, 2016
Bonner apologized to the board during a meeting Monday, but there is no system in place to remove him from the position, which he is scheduled to hold for two more years, unless Bonner chooses to step down.
Here's the statement from Blevins Public Schools Superintendent Billy Lee after a school board member was pictured in blackface #KATV7pic.twitter.com/WbhHryWP2T
— KATV News (@KATVNews) November 16, 2016
“The school board nor the school administration holds the power under the law to discipline or remove a school board member, only the voters have that power during the next school board election,” said school board president Justice West to KATV.
The superintendent has identified the man as Ted Bonner. Officials tell me he apologized at Monday night's school board meeting #ARnewspic.twitter.com/lCTsyLcqU0
— Jonathan Rozelle (@JonathanRozelle) November 16, 2016
“The issue was addressed at Monday night’s board meeting along with a sincere apology from the individual board member for the thoughtless act,” West said.
The apology isn’t enough, however, for many parents with children in the Blevins School District who are asking for Bonner to step down.
“Why is blackface funny?” asked Faye Smith, who has two boys going to school in the Belvins district. “I mean, we have a whole race of people who don’t think looking in the mirror is a joke,” she said to KATV.
“I don’t appreciate the fact that you’re mocking the thing that I’m teaching my boys is something to be proud of,” she added.
#NAACP calls for Blevins school board member pictured in #blackface to resign #ARNewspic.twitter.com/gtU1dmRj1J
— Austin Kellerman (@AustinKellerman) November 16, 2016
The Arkansas NAACP has since threatened to demonstrate if their calls for Bonner’s resignation are not answered.