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Follow on Google News | National Anti-bullying Organization Responds To Arkansas School Board Member's Anti-gay RantNational Voices for Equality, Education, and Enlightenment (NVEEE) Angered By Shocking Comments on Facebook, Asks for Resignation
By: Charles Jones While families, organizations and schools across the country are taking action against bullying and suicide, Clint McCance, a board member of an Arkansas school district, is using his Facebook page to encourage "queers" and "fags" to kill themselves. “We tell them to hold on because things will get better” said Jowharah Sanders, Founder and Executive Director of NVEEE. “How can we promise them that things are going to get better when the very ones we entrust our children to publicly wish them dead? I am deeply saddened and appalled by his comments and can only hope that none of our children take their lives due to his lack of humanity and compassion. This was inhumane. This was disgusting. This was cyber-bullying. This needs to stop.” McCance is a school board member for the Midland School District in Independence County in Western Arkansas. Using Facebook, a common tool for cyber- bullying, McCance wrote the following message on his Facebook page: "Seriously they want me to wear purple because five queers killed themselves. The only way im wearin it for them is if they all commit suicide. I cant believe the people of this world have gotten this stupid. We are honoring the fact that they sinned and killed thereselves because of their sin. REALLY PEOPLE." More disturbing is that when his comments were initially posted, six people "liked" McCance's message. In response to challenges from other Facebook users, McCance further stated, “being a fag doesn't give you the right to ruin the rest of our lives. If you get easily offended by being called a fag then dont tell anyone you are a fag. Keep that shit to yourself. I dont care how people decide to live their lives. They dont bother me if they keep it to thereselves. It pisses me off though that we make a special purple fag day for them.” He later added that he "liked the fact that fags can't procreate [and] I also enjoy the fact that they often give each other AIDS and die." “Families are losing their children because of school bullying and here is a high level school official openly refusing to acknowledge their deaths” said Jessica Saiontz, Director of Operations. “It is a time of mourning for the teens who felt hopeless and couldn’t see the light at the end of the tunnel, and as a result, their lives came to a crashing halt. Spirit Day was a day to celebrate the lives of those we’ve lost due to bullying. My only wish is that McCance would have refrained from cyber-bullying on a national day of remembrance.” Parents are outraged by his comments, lack of sensitivity and blatant disregard for human life. “Its disgusting that a person, and parent, who believes that any child should commit suicide has a position of power within a school district” said Melissa Woodfall. “He should strongly consider taking a sensitivity course, and finding a new line of work, because it is obvious that the safety of all children is not his priority.” Woodfall’s daughter also participates in NVEEE’s teen-to-teen mentoring program. “We are not asking for an apology,” said Sanders. “We are asking for a resignation.” NVEEE recently launched its National ‘Not on My Watch’ Anti-Bullying Campaign. Developed by NVEEE and its teen mentors, the ‘Not on My Watch’ Campaign and pledge is a part of the organization’ NVEEE is committed to making a difference in the lives of young people and their families. The organization has developed several anti-bullying workshops and challenges in schools nationwide, established youth and support groups, grew its mentoring program, and established partnerships with local and national organizations with similar missions. To learn more about NVEEE, please visit our website: www.nveee.org. JOIN THE FIGHT FOR PEACE AND CHANGE IN SCHOOLS Donate School Supplies for Survivors of School Violence Amazon Wish List: www.amazon.com/ Donate via PayPal www.NVEEE.org/ Become a Volunteer, Mentor, or Intern NVEEE.org/howyoucanhelp/ NVEEE.org/howyoucanhelp/ NVEEE.org/howyoucanhelp/ Media Connections: Facebook.com/ Twitter.com/ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For More Information Contact: Jowharah Sanders JowharahSanders@ 954.561.2626 -or- Charles Jones cjones@cjonespr.com 786-454-9835 # # # With offices in South Florida and Washington, D.C., CJones & Associates Public Relations focuses on publicity, legal marketing, crisis communications, issues management, community and multicultural relations, event planning, and presentation training. End
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