Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1508868
AROUND AEA 6 ADVOCATE | FALL 2023 Struggle and Solidarity in Peoria, Arizona Struggle and Solidarity in Peoria, Arizona S chool should be a place where everyone, educators and students alike, is able to be their full selves. at's a basic principle. It shouldn't be complicated or controversial. But over the last year, educators and community members in Peoria, Arizona have had to ght like hell for it. In 2022, two new school board members, Rebecca Hill and Heather Rooks, were elected in Peoria. ey quickly began making national headlines for their outrageous, anti-public school antics. Rebecca Hill said that "God is not blessing this district" during a school board meeting — and then encouraged parents to withdraw their kids. She repeatedly recited Bible verses from the dais despite warnings from the district's lawyers. Together, Rooks and Hill scuttled a partnership with Microso just because of a single website page about diversity, equity and inclusion. At times, their e orts to spread misinformation and hateful rhetoric became incredibly personal. For more than a year, Rooks and Hill engaged in a protracted campaign of harassment and bullying against a trans teacher, River Chunnui, including trying to get them red. is spring, 400+ teachers with the Peoria Education Association signed a letter asking Rooks and Hill to step down. In August, Hill resigned. Rooks remains on the board for now, and PEA members are continuing to push for her resignation. Shortly before Hill resigned, Chunnui led a $52,000 lawsuit against Hill and Rooks. A er the lawsuit became public, Chunnui's car was vandalized three times in the school parking lot, and their tires Struggle and Solidarity in Peoria, Arizona Struggle and Solidarity in Peoria, Arizona were slashed. In response, educators and community members from Peoria and across the area came together and rallied to show support and solidarity. At a moment when our trans community is increasingly under attack at all levels, we have to be united in standing up for the rights of educators and students to be themselves at school. We are determined to keep ghting back — in Peoria, at the state capitol, and beyond.