Mayoral candidate Andy Rougeot called on Denver Public School Board Vice President Auon’tai “Tay” Anderson to resign for leading the board to expel school resource officers from campuses in 2020 leaving children vulnerable to violence.
“Denver Public School Board Vice President Tay Anderson led the dangerous charge to remove SRO’s from our schools and he should resign immediately for jeopardizing the safety of our schools and placing our children in harm’s way,” Rougeot said in a press release.
“It’s time for the Denver Public School Board to be led by responsible adults and parents from the community, not politicians more concerned with scoring dangerous political points than they are about our kids,” Rougeot said.
Rougeot is a tough-on-crime candidate calling for the hiring of 400 police officers plus security resource officers in school, and the only Republican running for mayor.
In addition to permanently securing schools with officers, Rougeot said students charged with serious crimes like murder or rape should be removed from school grounds to remote learning situations.
Parents should be notified immediately of violent incidents that occur at the school their child is attending or when students are caught in possession of a weapon. Increased transparency with parents will allow them to hold administrators or elected officials accountable when their child’s safety is put in jeopardy.
Rougeot’s position is particularly noteworthy, as the school board last week reluctantly allowed armed officers back on campus but has ordered the superintendent to work with the mayor of Denver and get him to pay for it.
With just weeks left in his term, Mayor Hancock finally spoke out against the board and criticized their decision to shutter the school’s security apparatus in the name of progressive politics.
The next mayor of Denver better not wait that long.
I’m focused on making Denver safer by adding 400 police officers and putting SRO’s back in schools permanently.
You’ve been focused on your political image instead of our kids safety #COPolitics #Denver https://t.co/J8DlreJ4UW pic.twitter.com/ex75jO4GXn
— Andy Rougeot (@AndyforDenver) March 27, 2023
Meanwhile, Anderson refused to take any questions at a press conference the day after last week’s shooting, and restricted his comments to his private Twitter account, where responses are blocked to the public.
But this happened:
I look forward to joining @KyleClark tomorrow on @nexton9news for a productive conversation on school safety.
I will also be sitting down with some dope Black women journalists on the same topic prior to this conversation. Once I have that information I’ll share that. https://t.co/XxeGAbStue
— Auon’tai M. Anderson (@AuontaiAnderson) March 26, 2023
And he did respond to Rougeot’s demand for his resignation, again on the private account where we and many other members of the public are blocked.
Bro focus on your campaign. There’s a difference between us, I at least have won an citywide election.
Next time my name is Auon’tai* https://t.co/rwqAcr0hII
— Auon’tai M. Anderson (@AuontaiAnderson) March 27, 2023