I worry about this all the time. I had to leave the group. That same person (I think) also recently said that she heard that “Nichole was being harassed and stalked by a gang of white people at meet and greets” and then proceeded to compare it to history in a way that I don’t feel I can repeat here.
I worry about this all the time. I had to leave the group. That same person (I think) also recently said that she heard that “Nichole was being harassed and stalked by a gang of white people at meet and greets” and then proceeded to compare it to history in a way that I don’t feel I can repeat here.
I really, really, really hope this isn’t happening to Nichole. I went to a meet and greet recently, had a really insightful conversation with her and others, and saw nothing of such abusive behavior towards any candidate, for the matter. It was a welcoming and inspiring event. If it is true, it should be reported on every news outlet and those folks should be outed and shamed for their disgusting behavior. I don’t even know what else to say.
Pinkard was being "harassed and stalked" or some voters were asking her hard questions? Are white D65 parents not allowed to ask questions of the board candidates? This is a clear example of purposely inflammatory language being used. If someone is being "harassed and stalked," the police would be called because that's a crime. If someone is running for public office and is being asked hard questions by voters, that's the process.
This is the first I've heard of any of this. I will say that I got more anonymous emails about Nichole than any other candidate by a lot. However, she does a lot of public-facing stuff and when you do a lot of stuff, people have more things to criticize you for.
I will say that there are definitely a few crazy people in Evanston there that do harass black candidates for office, so it's not outside the realm of possibility, but I haven't seen them around this cycle.
Curious to know if it’s kosher for Dr Pinkard to cherry pick responding to posts. I certainly appreciate that she’s busy, but I see she’s chosen to respond to one post as recent as 2 hours ago. Other posts have gotten responses within a few hours.
Given the propensity for current and past BOE members to support the harassment on that FB page, I respectfully submit that it would show courage and leadership for any candidate to call out that behavior and stand for respectful discourse on a FB page that purportedly represents the district (due to name).
Also @momwhodoesntlikehamas —I suggest you ask every candidate your question. It would matter to many voters if any of the candidates would stand for a modicum of decorum and call out the type of harassment and bullying on FB pages as wrong —esp on pages that due to their name suggest a linkage to the district.
I've been skeptical about her candidacy based on her funders, her position on technology in schools, and her consultancy-adjacent work and will not likely vote for her.
BUT there is no reason for her to respond to stupid questions about the District 65 Facebook group.
Coming in as a skeptic, I am actually impressed with her answers here and won't be too distraught if she wins.
Similar questions were asked of other candidates-basically how would they handle anti-semitism in the schools. Because Nichole signed two antisemitic letters, asking her about this was appropriate. Nichole was very calm in her response. Another candidate was taken off guard when asked. There are hateful people in our town. Asking about how a candidate would handle hateful acts directed at any group is totally appropriate.
I was at an event and watched Nichole be approached by a group of women who were clearly angry about something and there to confront it. A very different vibe than anyone else’s approach with the rest of the candidates. While I wouldn’t say I witnessed harassment and stalking, it was definitely uncomfortable to be around, and I watched from across the room. Nichole didn’t get upset or angry in return, and had a conversation with the small group that did not look fun to me. (As she should as a candidate for the board.) But overall her vibe and demeanor were incredibly open and professional through it all. I went from on the fence about her to convinced she’d be an asset on the board.
And if she is being stalked and harassed, shame on those people.
Do you know what they were upset about? Being upset and asking questions/wanting answers is very very different than harassment and stalking. I very much do appreciate Dr. Pinkard’s demeanor as you report. It’s sad that it has come to this in this town —that we’re grateful for professional approachable serious behavior.
Yeah I assumed so —only because I cannot imagine what else could get people upset with Dr. Pinkard (except for maybe not understanding the role she played in d65 while Dr. Horton was still here).
And when it comes to those letters —they’re terrible and terrifying to most Jewish people with the last year being really hard. NU was terrifying for Jewish students—the encampments were not handled well. There have been terrible/scary things at ETHS, D65, NU and the City Council targeting Jewish students & adults. Things most don’t know about (esp in the schools). So, I’m imploring people to give some grace to your upset Jewish neighbors asking a leader, a prof at NU running for school board to defend signing both those letters and to press when the response is hugging it out with the First Amendment.
I worry about this all the time. I had to leave the group. That same person (I think) also recently said that she heard that “Nichole was being harassed and stalked by a gang of white people at meet and greets” and then proceeded to compare it to history in a way that I don’t feel I can repeat here.
I really, really, really hope this isn’t happening to Nichole. I went to a meet and greet recently, had a really insightful conversation with her and others, and saw nothing of such abusive behavior towards any candidate, for the matter. It was a welcoming and inspiring event. If it is true, it should be reported on every news outlet and those folks should be outed and shamed for their disgusting behavior. I don’t even know what else to say.
Pinkard was being "harassed and stalked" or some voters were asking her hard questions? Are white D65 parents not allowed to ask questions of the board candidates? This is a clear example of purposely inflammatory language being used. If someone is being "harassed and stalked," the police would be called because that's a crime. If someone is running for public office and is being asked hard questions by voters, that's the process.
This is the first I've heard of any of this. I will say that I got more anonymous emails about Nichole than any other candidate by a lot. However, she does a lot of public-facing stuff and when you do a lot of stuff, people have more things to criticize you for.
I will say that there are definitely a few crazy people in Evanston there that do harass black candidates for office, so it's not outside the realm of possibility, but I haven't seen them around this cycle.
Curious to know if it’s kosher for Dr Pinkard to cherry pick responding to posts. I certainly appreciate that she’s busy, but I see she’s chosen to respond to one post as recent as 2 hours ago. Other posts have gotten responses within a few hours.
Given the propensity for current and past BOE members to support the harassment on that FB page, I respectfully submit that it would show courage and leadership for any candidate to call out that behavior and stand for respectful discourse on a FB page that purportedly represents the district (due to name).
Also @momwhodoesntlikehamas —I suggest you ask every candidate your question. It would matter to many voters if any of the candidates would stand for a modicum of decorum and call out the type of harassment and bullying on FB pages as wrong —esp on pages that due to their name suggest a linkage to the district.
I will! Thank you
I've been skeptical about her candidacy based on her funders, her position on technology in schools, and her consultancy-adjacent work and will not likely vote for her.
BUT there is no reason for her to respond to stupid questions about the District 65 Facebook group.
Coming in as a skeptic, I am actually impressed with her answers here and won't be too distraught if she wins.
Silence speaks volumes.....
Bro, don't feed the trolls. The Facebook Equity Army folks are unserious people and post nonsense like that solely to get a rise out of folks.
Similar questions were asked of other candidates-basically how would they handle anti-semitism in the schools. Because Nichole signed two antisemitic letters, asking her about this was appropriate. Nichole was very calm in her response. Another candidate was taken off guard when asked. There are hateful people in our town. Asking about how a candidate would handle hateful acts directed at any group is totally appropriate.
I was at an event and watched Nichole be approached by a group of women who were clearly angry about something and there to confront it. A very different vibe than anyone else’s approach with the rest of the candidates. While I wouldn’t say I witnessed harassment and stalking, it was definitely uncomfortable to be around, and I watched from across the room. Nichole didn’t get upset or angry in return, and had a conversation with the small group that did not look fun to me. (As she should as a candidate for the board.) But overall her vibe and demeanor were incredibly open and professional through it all. I went from on the fence about her to convinced she’d be an asset on the board.
And if she is being stalked and harassed, shame on those people.
Do you know what they were upset about? Being upset and asking questions/wanting answers is very very different than harassment and stalking. I very much do appreciate Dr. Pinkard’s demeanor as you report. It’s sad that it has come to this in this town —that we’re grateful for professional approachable serious behavior.
I believe it was about the letters that she signed as an NU professor, but I moved away as I was done with my conversation with her.
Yeah I assumed so —only because I cannot imagine what else could get people upset with Dr. Pinkard (except for maybe not understanding the role she played in d65 while Dr. Horton was still here).
And when it comes to those letters —they’re terrible and terrifying to most Jewish people with the last year being really hard. NU was terrifying for Jewish students—the encampments were not handled well. There have been terrible/scary things at ETHS, D65, NU and the City Council targeting Jewish students & adults. Things most don’t know about (esp in the schools). So, I’m imploring people to give some grace to your upset Jewish neighbors asking a leader, a prof at NU running for school board to defend signing both those letters and to press when the response is hugging it out with the First Amendment.