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A California school board member is calling for an Independence Day boycott after the Supreme Court’s decision last week to overturn Roe v. Wade.
Anamarie Avila Farias, a member of the Contra Costa County Board of Education, posted an image Tuesday on Facebook that declared, “BOYCOTT 4TH OF JULY.”
Contra Costa County Board of Education member Anamarie Avila Farias.
(Contra Costa County Board of Education)
“I haven’t celebrated 4th of July since 2016 and I don’t think it’s a holiday to celebrate,” Avila Farias wrote. “What do you think?”
The school board member’s post was met with mixed reviews, with some commenters asking for further clarification.
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“I am not feeling particularly patriotic,” Avila Farias explained. “I am especially not interested in celebrating a holiday centered around freedom from oppressive government when that freedom is not a reality for so many people in this country.
“Lastly, last Friday women’s reproductive rights were taken away!” she added. “We are not in a place of progress or celebration when human rights are being taken away.”
A general view of the atmosphere during the 2021 Coronado Fourth of July Parade on July 03, 2021 in Coronado, California.
(Daniel Knighton/Getty Images)
Avila Farias, who is also an elected member of the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County (DPCCC), later shared a 2020 Medium post from Dana Saxon, titled, “9 Reasons Why I Don’t Celebrate the 4th of July,” which argues only white people were freed via the Declaration of Independence, and that “it took nearly another 100 years before my ancestors technically gained their freedom in 1865.”
Avila Farias and the DPCCC did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment.
Fellow school board member Mike Maxwell said he disagreed with Avila Farias’ comments but supported her right to say them.
“It’s her personal Facebook page; she is entitled to say whatever Facebook will allow her to say,” Maxwell told Fox News Digital in an email. “And while I also am disappointed with the recent developments in honoring rights among Americans, I do not agree with her statement.
“As long as she is not making the statement on behalf of the Board and County, go for it. But the smart voters will connect who is making that statement,” he added.
Protesters shout as they join thousands marching around the Arizona Capitol after the Supreme Court decision to overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade abortion decision Friday, June 24, 2022, in Phoenix.
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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“This type of rhetoric is absolutely disgusting,” Matt Shupe, chairman of the Contra Costa Republican Party, told Fox News Digital in a statement. “The greatness in America is that people from all different political persuasions, opinions, perspectives are able to have their voice heard and respected, and at the end of the day, we all love this country, regardless of who the president is or who runs Congress.”
“The fact that Contra Costa County Democrats are basically protesting this country and its foundation and its core and don’t believe in it anymore, I think speaks more volumes to their very twisted thinking and sad ideology at this point,” he continued. “Most Americans don’t want this type of rhetoric in our education system.”
