Carl J. Petersen
Bio
Carl Petersen is a former Green Party candidate for the LAUSD School Board and a longtime advocate for public education and special needs families. Now based in Washington State, he writes about politics, culture, and their intersections.
Stories (315)
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Hate Did Not Win (So Far)
“Ultra nationalism, dictatorship, and anti-semitism were the ideas of Hitler.” – BYJU'S A key component of the right-wing infecting our country today is the appropriation of patriotic symbols to represent these beliefs suggesting that it is unAmerican to disagree with them. This ultra-nationalism has been on display during violent protests held by Leave Our Kids Alone (LOKA), including the one in front of Saticoy Elementary School on June 2, 2023. This included not only the literal wrapping of themselves in the American flag but also speeches claiming that their hatred of the LGBTQ+ community was somehow an American value.
By Carl J. Petersen2 years ago in The Swamp
Hate On A Saturday Morning
“That is not appropriate for any of our children. Now my religious rites tells me what I can and cannot do. I don't teach my children to be racist. I don't teach my children to be hateful. I teach them to be loving and caring and sharing. Now, where is this coming from that? I'm going to all of a sudden teach my children to hate gay people or Lesbian people. No. Leave your gender, leave your sexuality to yourself, to your bedroom. Don't bring it to our children. The more you attack our children, the more we gonna come after you guys and protest and say [inaudible]. Mother Fuckers.” – Public comment of Manuk Grigoryan
By Carl J. Petersen2 years ago in The Swamp
LAUSD Candidate Karla Griego on Special Education
“Depriving our students of the holistic education appropriate to them is an injustice.” – BD5 Candidate Karla Griego Karla Griego is one of the three candidates who qualified for the March 5, 2024, ballot in LAUSD’s Board District 5. This is the seat left open by Jackie Goldberg’s retirement.
By Carl J. Petersen2 years ago in Education
LAUSD BD1 School Board Endorsement: Sherlett Hendy Newbill
“This community deserves more than this” – The late Marguerite LaMotte LAUSD’s Board District 1 was previously represented by the late Marguerite LaMotte. While her tenure predates my time as an LAUSD watchdog, she is remembered by many as a passionate leader who fought hard for the students she referenced as “my babies.”
By Carl J. Petersen2 years ago in Education
Public Education Supporters Can Breath A Little Easier In Los Angeles
“As educators, we recognize that people can learn and evolve through courageous conversations.” – UTLA Before dumping $690,949.34 into the BD1 race supporting Kahllid Al-Alim, one would have thought that United Teachers Los Angeles would have done the basic research into their chosen candidate. Having failed to perform this due diligence they were forced to withdraw their endorsement of Al-Alim when a Twitter post was shared where the community organizer called for an anti-Semitic book to be “MANDATORY Reading in Community Schools…part of the BSAP (Black Student Achievement Plan).”
By Carl J. Petersen2 years ago in Education
A School Fights To Keep Its Community In Tact
“We emphasized the role of the school not just as an educational institution but as a cornerstone of our social fabric, where friendships flourish and collective support thrives.” – LAUSD BD3 Candidate Andreas Farmakalidis
By Carl J. Petersen2 years ago in The Swamp
LAUSD BD5 School Board Endorsement: Karla Griego
“At every stage in my career, I have worked to create spaces for community input.” – Karla Griego’s website Nestled in southeast Los Angeles, LAUSD’s BD5 has seen a lot of turmoil within the last decade. First, the Charter School Industry spent millions on a campaign that falsely accused the incumbent, public school champion Bennett Kayser, of trying “to stop Latino Children From Attending Schools in White Neighborhoods” and mocked his diagnosis of Parkinson's. The tactics were successful and Kayser was replaced by charter school operator Ref Rodriguez. However, after pleading guilty to felony charges, Rodriguez was forced from office, leaving BD5 unrepresented until the voters chose Jackie Goldberg to replace him in a Special Election. Then the Board District was radically reshaped in a redistricting process tainted by corruption.
By Carl J. Petersen2 years ago in Education
