POWAYPOWAY — The local chapter of a national civil rights group founded by the Rev. Al Sharpton is planning a news conference and rally in the Poway school district Wednesday in of a district parent who was banned from volunteering at his child’s school after s said he threatened them.
The event, hosted by the San Diego chapter of the National Action Network, is set to take place around 1 p.m. outside Poway Unified School District headquarters at 15250 Avenue of Science, San Diego. It will be led by the Rev. Shane Harris, president of the group’s San Diego chapter.
The rally is in of Chris Garnier, a black parent who has said racism is at the heart of a three-year workplace violence restraining order filed against him last year by district officials.
The order was obtained after s at Painted Rock Elementary School said Garnier made verbal threats against school employees and exhibited menacing behavior.
Garnier has denied those allegations.
In a statement, Harris said that the filing of restraining orders against people in the community who represent different voices is an attempt to “quiet the call for diversity” in Poway Unified.
District spokeswoman Christine Paik said Tuesday that Garnier’s own actions are the only reason for the order, which was upheld by a judge.
“Mr. Garnier has not been restrained from speaking at board meetings, and has freely done so, and the district continues to listen,” she said.
Paik also cited many district programs aimed at celebrating diversity and said Poway Unified has an active non-discrimination program.
The district has about 35,500 students. More than 18,000 are white and 884 are African-American.
The National Action Network was formed 25 years ago by Rev. Al Sharpton.
Sharpton plans to be in San Diego on Feb. 27 to deliver a Black History Month speech at a gathering of the United Domestic Workers Union.
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