BUZZ
Escorted out for blasting board chair’s comments celebrating Hulk Hogan’s death
The Florida commissioner of education is recommending a local school district lose funding totaling the salaries of all its board members following the board’s treatment of a father who spoke up at a July 31 meeting.
As reported by Corey DeAngelis on X, Parent Jeremy Clepper (pictured) took his turn during public comment to criticize Alachua County Public Schools Board Chair Sarah Rockwell for her social media comments celebrating the recent death of pro wrestling star Hulk Hogan.
Hogan, a vocal supporter of Donald Trump, died a week ago from a heart attack.
Upon learning of Hogan’s passing, Rockwell wrote on Facebook “Oh, did Hulk die? I didn’t even know. One less MAGA in the world.”
In response to a comment, Rockwell added Hogan “worked with the McMahons to union bust professional wrestling. he’s never been a good guy. I feel absolutely nothing about his death.”
According to the Alachua Chronicle, Rockwell’s comment was written on a person’s post telling people to “stop clumping Theo in with Ozzy and Hulk” — Theo being “The Cosby Show’s” Malcolm Jamal-Warner who recently drowned while on vacation, and Ozzy is legendary rocker Ozzy Osbourne.
“They are not the same and stop honoring racists just because they are familiar!” the post read.
Rockwell, who holds multiple degrees in special education, eventually apologized for her comments, saying she “deeply regretted” what she wrote.
“I want to make it very clear that I never have and never will wish harm on anyone regardless of whether we share political views,” she added.
During his time at the mic, Clepper told Rockwell her comments had “cheered for the death of MAGA” and he mocked her apology: “Aren’t you a highly educated woman that knows the exact meaning behind her words?”
Clepper concluded by telling the board chair she “should step down,” and that she’s a “disgusting, vile human being.”
A board member took issue with Clepper’s remarks and called over a police officer to remove him from the meeting. While he was being escorted out, another board member noted the district’s attorney had requested that Clepper not be removed.
But by that time it appeared Clepper was already on his way out of the room.
MORE: California bill would make questioning school board members a crime
Many in attendance at the meeting (who were wearing face masks, including Rockwell) were in favor of ejecting Clepper. One can be heard saying “He needs to go,” while local “social justice activist” Faye Williams (pictured) screamed over and over “Get out!” and called Clepper a “white supremacist.”
Williams also told a woman who tried to calm her down “don’t touch me,” “shut the hell up and leave me alone!” and “why don’t you mind your damn business!”
News of the Alachua District board meeting chaos reached Florida Commissioner of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas, who then penned a letter to Rockwell.
After blasting her remarks about Hogan, Kamoutsas wrote “that concern has now been reaffirmed by your decision to allow the rights of a parent defending the conservative position to be violated …”
“After a parent expressed his protected opinion under the First Amendment, you sat idly by while the police were directed to escort this parent out …” Kamoutsas continued.
The commissioner noted since the Alachua Board “failed to ensure free expression of all viewpoints during public comment” he found “probable cause” that state law was violated. As such, Kamoutsas recommended the Florida State Board of Education “withhold from the [Alachua] district an amount equal to the salaries of all board members.”
MORE: Students, teacher want school board president ousted for demanding higher test scores
IMAGE CAPTION & CREDIT: Jeremy Clepper speaking during public comment at the July 31 Alachua County Public Schools board meeting. INTERIOR IMAGES: Corey DeAngelis, Alachua Chronicle/X
