CLAY COUNTY, Fla. – The Clay County chapter of the NAACP has joined calls for the resignation of a school board member who is under fire for controversial social media posts about the African American community.
In a letter addressed to the Clay County School Board, the NAACP condemned District 2 board member Robert Alvero’s statements and demanded his immediate resignation, stating that the remarks did not reflect the character of an elected official.
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“These remarks are racist, harmful, and wholly incompatible with the responsibility of serving a diverse public school system,” the letter said.
In a Facebook Live video, first reported by Clay News & Views, Alvero said, in part, “I have had 80% more negative experience with the African American community in this country than with white people.”
Alvero has since apologized for his remarks in the deleted video, but state and local officials, such as Senator Jenn Bradley and the Clay County Democratic Executive Committee, have continued to express pushback and call for his resignation.
“Let us be clear: statements like those made by Mr. Alvero will not be tolerated in a community that values equity and justice. At the same time, we remain open to dialogue and urge the Clay County School Board to carefully consider what responsible leadership looks like in this time of division and to take actions that reflect the best interests of students, educators, and the broader community,” the NAACP said in a letter.
The school board acknowledged the comments and emphasized that they do not reflect the district’s values, mission or beliefs.
In a statement, the district also addressed the calls for Alvero’s removal:
“Regarding public inquiries and calls for removal, it is important to clarify the legal process governing school board membership. Neither the Superintendent nor the School Board as a body has the legal authority to remove an elected board member from office. Because school board members are constitutional officers, their term can only end early through a voluntary resignation or if the Governor acts to remove them from office, as outlined in Article IV, Section 7(a) of the Florida Constitution.”
Alevor has not spoken out about a possible resignation.