Western Arkansas Transparency in Government to host panel discussion on Critical Race Theory, FOIA
The Western Arkansas Transparency in Government (TIGG) will sponsor a panel discussion regarding the Freedom of Information Act ( FOIA) and Critical Race Theory on Tuesday, September 21, 2021 at 5:30PM at Fort Smith Senior Activity Center, 2700 Cavanaugh Road, Fort Smith.
The event is free and the public is invited and encouraged to attend.
There will be three speakers who will address Critical Race Theory and related FOIA issues in our public Schools and related issues. The Freedom of Information Act will be interwoven in the panel discussion.
Arkansas State Representative and Arkansas Secretary of State Candidate Mark Lowery will speak about HB 1218 which would have prohibited certain classroom instruction in all Arkansas public schools regarding Critical Race Theory, including discussion promoting division between certain groups of people, including race or gender.
Representative Lowery will also discuss a recent Attorney General’s Opinion he requested regarding the legality of introducing Critical Race Theory and professed “anti-racism” in Arkansas public schools and universities.
Fayetteville Citizen Ila Campbell will discuss her Critical Race Theory in Fayetteville Public Schools. She will also discuss her FOIA case regarding critical race theory in which Washington County Circuit Court Judge Mark Lindsay ruled the school district violated FOIA.
Western Arkansas TIGG founder, Joey McCutchen will moderate the panel discussion.
McCutchen said, “This free public forum is a must for parents in our community. Knowledge is power and the two speakers will educate our community, through personal experience, about how citizens can stay fully informed about the important subject of Critical Race Theory and other issues.”
