Judicial Watch Demands Providence (RI) Schools Cease and Desist “Retaliation and Harassment” Of Ramona Bessinger
On day of organized protest against Bessinger at school, JW writes to Superintendent: “Ms. Bessinger has been subjected to a continuing campaign of retaliation and harassment related to her protected First Amendment expression,” we call on district to “immediately put an end to the inappropriate and unlawful campaign of harassment against Ms. Bessinger.”
As previously mentioned, Providence (RI) whistleblower teacher Ramona Bessinger has been subjected to increasing attacks at Classical High School in Providence, including a protest against her today which Bessinger asserts was assisted by other teachers. This is the culmination of over a year of retaliation and harassment after Bessinger blew the whistle in July 2021, I’m A Middle School Teacher And See How Critical Race Curriculum Is Creating Racial Hostility In School.
The exposure gained Bessinger widespread national and international media coverage.
We covered the latest development of an organized protest against her in Whistleblower Providence (RI) Teacher Ramona Bessinger Under Attack Again, Teachers Helping Organize Student Protest Against Her:
Some students at Classical are organizing a walk-out and protest against her, aided she has learned by teachers at Classical and her former middle school. Bessinger has provided the names of those teachers to her principal and other administrators and teachers union officials, asking whether it was appropriate for teachers to be organizing students against another teacher.
The protest took place today. While very intimidating to have such an organize event at your workplace, the protest and walkout was a flop. Only about 40-50 students participating according to someone who was present. Several teachers and administrators observed.
Contrary to the advice organizers gave student, it does not appear that students covered their faces to avoid identification. That makes sense, since the administration and at least some teachers support the students.
These photos were posted on Twitter, and inaccurately claims there were 130 students, but the photos show otherwise:
Over 130 high school students walk out of Classical High School to protest the continued employment of teacher Ramona Bessinger, whose extremist views, students say, threaten their safety. @UpriseRI pic.twitter.com/icF3rSGIyt
— Steve Ahlquist (@steveahlquist) September 30, 2022
(archive)
It seems clear there is a coordinated effort to force Bessinger out, and that is being amplified and encouraged by a collective of radical groups:
And others who have political grudges against Bessinger:
The Providence school district still has not responded to our request for comment. It does not appear it has issued any statement in defense of Bessinger’s right to express her viewpoints on matters of social and political importance in her private life.
If the students acted spontaneously, perhaps the school officials could take the position that they should just stay out of it. But that is not what is happening according to Bessenger.
Bessenger is represented by Judicial Watch (which she wrote about in a prior post at Legal Insurrection), which sent a Letter this morning to the Superintendent of Providence Schools, demanding an end to the school-sanctions harassment of Bessinger (emphasis added):
Dear Superintendent Montanez:
We represent Ramona Bessinger, a 24-year veteran teacher at Classical High School. As you may be aware, Ms. Bessinger has spoken out publicly regarding her concerns about the current curriculum in Providence Public Schools. As a result, Ms. Bessinger has been subjected to a continuing campaign of retaliation and harassment related to her protected First Amendment expression. Among these actions against Ms. Bessinger was her being involuntarily transferred last year and left to sit in a school basement without any duties for nine months. After Ms. Bessinger grieved this wholly inappropriate action and an arbitration was scheduled, PPSD reversed its position without explanation, and finally restored Ms. Bessinger to the classroom.
The harassment and retaliation against Ms. Bessinger, however, has not ceased. As you may be aware, it has now culminated with a planned teacher/student protest of Ms. Bessinger scheduled for today at noon. The principal and other administrators at Classical High School apparently have endorsed this action against one of their own teachers. As a result, because of this school endorsement of the retaliation/harassment campaign against Ms. Bessinger, the threats and vitriol against her have only escalated, including at least one death threat.
We ask that you immediately put an end to the inappropriate and unlawful campaign of harassment against Ms. Bessinger. Ms. Bessinger seeks only to continue teaching students as she has done exceptionally well for many years. If this pattern of abuse against Ms. Bessinger continues, we will be forced to explore all legal options.
This could be setting up a significant 1st Amendment fight.
I’m sure there will be more to come.
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Comments
What happens if they cease, but don’t desist?
Bessinger’s counsel should immediately prepare to sue, skin the district for big bucks.
“whose extremist views, students say, threaten their safety.”
This shit needs to stop.
This snowflakery needs to be called out and, if necessary, punished.
Wait a minute! Doesn’t she have her union to protect her from this sort of thing?!?
Same way we geezers had the AARP to protect us from Obamacare.
LOL! You’re funny! The unions are 100% pro leftist. I have been in my share, and their primary responsibility is to take dues and promote Democrats in elections.
There may be a clue in the term “union”.
You mean like “commune-ion?”
I’m sure that GG was joking. Everyone knows that The Teacher’s Union is Stalinist.
“”The Youth is always alright””
Bullcrap. The “youth” is, as always, stupid, ignorant, uninformed and wildly indignant about pretty much everything.
The “Yutes” are always alright.
That’s why “youths” make the best activists. They’re ignorant and full of rage and indignation. They also know less about what they support/oppose than the average person on the street.
Al Capp had their number decades ago “S.W.I.N.E.” – Students Wildly Indignant over Nearly Everything.
Don’t forget that they are maleducated!
Actually, I think the root of the problem is that they’re femaleducated.
Heh, heh!
Drakeated. Male duc = drake.
Oberlin came to mind in reading this.
If Administration and Board of Ed. had prior knowing knowledge of the teachers and it involved aiding and instigating a formal public protest against Ramona Bessinger and did nothing to prevent it, would it also be considered a bases for a defamation lawsuit?
Precedent can be a beeyotch….
No. First of all, because there’s no defamation. Second, because even if there had been defamation, the school would have had no duty to prevent it.
Remember that Oberlin did not get in trouble for its students’ speech. It tried arguing that till it was blue in the face, and the courts agreed that it couldn’t be held liable for that, but patiently explained that it wasn’t. Nor could or was it held liable for faculty aiding the student speech.
The only think Oberlin got in trouble for was when its own representative, Meredith Raimondo, personally distributed a flier that was foolish enough to make a false factual statement. Had the flyer contented itself with hurling abuse at Gibsons, as these students’ flyer does at Bessinger, there would have been no case.
This is somewhat reminiscent of what happened at Oberlin College. Is it possible that some school employees encouraged this? Lawsuit in the wings?
No. See above. Oberlin’s example should tell you exactly why there cannot be any suit.
The fact that it flopped it telling. Methinks people are getting to be done with the divisive- “everyone who is not with us is a racist” schtick
“is” telling..
c’mon. edit button for the first 10 min of a comment’s life.
She’s a public figure, and a symbol now. They’ll never stop coming for her., ideally to discredit her. Short of that to punish her, pours encourage les autres.
Any students who get identified as supporting this “racist,” “white supremacist,” teacher are pretty much guaranteed to be assaulted by the self-righteous racism-accusers.
Like the teacher herself, anyone who supports her must dream of a day when everyone is judged by their individual character instead of by the color of their skin.
Judging people by the content of their character is meritocracy, which is the very definition of “white supremacy,” according to the CRT that these pathetically ignorant children have been taught.
They may not know what racism is, but they definitely know that it needs to be eliminated, if someone will just point out the racists for them.
Doesn’t this sound just like the Oberlin College behavior?
Hey, shouldn’t the National School Board Association, or the Teachers’ Union, or both, send a letter demanding the FBI track these domestic terrorists?
I mean, of course The American Stasi are surveilling these kids, but a letter gives them cover, and fodder for a memo from not-Justice Garland. Seems like a no-brainer.