Join several local organizations in formally calling Tonya Laird Lewis to withdraw from re-election and resign immediately as a member of the Wicomico County Board of Education based on the actions and statements made by her son, a student in WCBOE schools.

A few weeks ago, the Wicomico County School system was subjected to a shocking, yet sadly unsurprising expression of bigotry and violence. School Board Member Tonya Laird Lewis's son who is a student at Parkside High School posted a video online wherein he was carelessly handling a rifle while making racist and violent threats.

Instead of properly addressing the issues caused by the threats of racial violence her son made, Tonya Laird Lewis tried to downplay the incident as simply humor or ‘poor decisions.” She then proceeded to double down on her doomed re-election campaign despite the damage she has created.  

Students in Wicomico County deserve safe and secure schools, but this hateful message has echoed the deadly rhetoric we see from right-wing extremists across the country who commit and normalize terrible acts and find a comfortable home in the Republican Party. It is because of Mrs. Lewis’ silence on this matter and her dereliction of duty as a member of the Wicomico County Board of Education we ask you to join us in writing to her calling on her to resign.