Protests at the Midland School District in Pleasant Plains are on for tomorrow, with organizers saying they plan to keep returning to the school for further protests until controversial board member Clint McCance resigns.

McCance is at the center of a firestorm of media attention over remarks he made on his Facebook page saying that he wished all homosexuals would commit suicide, and that he plans to kick his children out of the house if they tell him they are gay. Max Brantley has written exclusively about the case on this blog, and appeared today in an interview on MSNBC

Advertisement

Tonight’s planning meeting at Christ Episcopal Church in downtown Little Rock was hosted by local gay and lesbian advocacy group the Center for Artistic Revolution, and drew about 45 people, with 17 saying they planned to travel to the Midland School District tomorrow to hold signs and ask for McCance’s resignation. The protesters will leave tomorrow morning at 7 a.m. from the McDonald’s at the Kiehl Avenue exit off 67/167 in North Little Rock. They plan to be back in Little Rock by 1 p.m.

CAR director Randi Romo called tomorrow’s protest a “visibility,” and warned those attending to not engage anyone who tries to argue with them, to stay on the public sidewalk, and to obey any order by a police officer. There will be designated people to talk to anyone who approaches the protest. The protesters will hold signs bearing the faces of gay and lesbian children who have committed suicide in the last few months. On the back, the signs will say: “Is this enough, Mr. McCance?” CAR is also making signs which say “Resign” and “All Kids Matter.”

Advertisement

“It’s important that we present a cohesive and calm message,” Romo told the group. She later said that if McCance doesn’t resign before the November meeting of the Midland School Board, they will also picket the school then.

UPDATE: The video from last night’s Anderson Cooper 360 about the case is now online. Part 2 includes a conversation with the original whistleblower, Anthony Turner:
Part 1
Part 2

Advertisement

Arkansas Times: Your voice in the fight

Are you tired of watered-down news and biased reporting? The Arkansas Times has been fighting for truth and justice for 50 years. As an alternative newspaper in Little Rock, we are tough, determined, and unafraid to take on powerful forces. With over 63,000 Facebook followers, 58,000 Twitter followers, 35,000 Arkansas blog followers, and 70,000 daily email blasts, we are making a difference. But we can't do it without you. Join the 3,400 paid subscribers who support our great journalism and help us hire more writers. Sign up for a subscription today or make a donation of as little as $1 and help keep the Arkansas Times feisty for years to come.

Previous article Thank God for Tennessee Next article Brummett’s ballot