Colorado Springs school district bans teaching Critical Race Theory

A Colorado Springs, Colo., school district has banned the teaching of Critical Race Theory in a 3-2 vote.

Prior to the vote in District 49 on Thursday, several community members gave speeches regarding their thoughts on the measure, Fox 21 News reported.

One parent in support of Critical Race Theory said, "We do not become great by sticking our fingers in our ears and pretending we have no flaws. There is no shame in saying that we still have far to go…that constant striving to better ourselves–that is American exceptionalism…I am not afraid of our history. The real question is, why are you?"

A woman who opposed Critical Race Theory said, "My mother was Hispanic, Native American, raised in poverty, and she was the first in her family to graduate high school. She was the first to graduate college and she was the first to become a homeowner. I do not come from a family that says I am defined by anything as artificial as the color of my skin, the color of my skin, my ancestry or anything else."

Another parent argued that "CRT indoctrinates our children into racism," the Washington Examiner reported.

Following speeches from the community members, the school board members briefly explained the reasoning behind their votes, according to Fox 21 News.

"As long as I am a D49 school board member, it will be my single-minded mission to ensure that D49 remains one of the top-notch districts and protection from any infusion of insidious indoctrination," school board director Ivy Liu said, receiving a standing ovation.