San Francisco school board members, in a vote of no confidence, stripped their colleague Alison Collins of her role as vice president over racist tweets against Asian Americans.
The board also removed Collins from a role on any committees. Board members Jenny Lam and Faauuga Moliga, who authored the measure for the action, called for Collins to resign, saying she has failed to accept responsibility for her words.
The vote came less than a week after Collins’ critics unearthed a thread of tweets from 2016 in which she used a racial slur and said Asian Americans had used “white supremacist thinking to assimilate and ‘get ahead.’” Nearly 5,000 people have since signed a petition calling for Collins’ resignation, joining public officials, including the mayor and 10 supervisors.
Supporters say Collins was unfairly targeted by right-wing activists and should be forgiven.
Over the weekend, Collins said the tweets, posted two years before she was elected, were taken out of context. She apologized for the pain she caused but has not removed the tweets.
A tweet thread by SFUSD Board Vice President Alison Collins from Dec. 4, 2016
Twitter screenshotThe board approved the no-confidence measure with a 5-2 vote, with Collins and board President Gabriela López dissenting.
“This continues to harm and divide our communities,” Lam said during the meeting. “We need to move forward to govern this district.”
Moliga said Collins’ tweets were “not only hurtful, but racist.”
“After Commissioner Collins’ graceful resignation, we would be left with the task of repairing and restoring the dignity and respect that we all deserve,” Moliga said. “History may forget your names, but it will never forget your actions.”
Collins declined to address the tweets or the content of the resolution. She said board members circumvented standard process and López to put the measure on the special meeting agenda.
Yet board policy allows for four board members to place an item on the agenda without the president’s approval, which occurred in this case.
“This resolution distracts from priority matters,” said Collins, referring to reopening schools and replacing outgoing Superintendent Vince Matthews. “This resolution does nothing to enhance our team. I reject the attempts to mischaracterize me as a person and as a member of this board.”
López has opposed efforts to oust Collins from the board.
Dozens of people, many emotional, spoke during public comment, some supporting Collins, but a majority supported the resolution and called for her resignation.
“I have no confidence in Commissioner Collins’ leadership and ability to represent our students and families,” said parent Lisa Tsang. “I don’t believe her apology is sincere and she should resign.”
Board members Matt Alexander, Kevine Boggess, Mark Sanchez and López condemned the tweets, but did not call for Collins to resign. Instead, they said they supported a “restorative process.”
The San Francisco Berniecrats also oppose those calling for Collins’ resignation, said Brandee Marckmann, co-chair of the group.
Supporters of Collins said the rediscovery a week ago of the tweets by people supporting a recall of board members Collins, López and Moliga was politically motivated.
“This attack on Collins is deeply political and you can hear it in the comments of many people here tonight,” said Brandon Harami. “I think Collins should make a stronger apology, but after months of her being attacked by right wing groups and trolls, I do not blame her for being defensive.”
Virginia Marshall, from the Alliance of Black School Educators, chastised the board Thursday.
“This is not how we resolve conflict,” she said. “The students are watching.”
In her tweets, from December 2016, Collins said the string of messages was part of an effort to “combat anti-black racism in the Asian community” and “at my daughters’ mostly Asian Am school.”
She then asked: “Where are the vocal Asians speaking up against Trump? Don’t Asian Americans know they’re on his list as well?” Collins had tweeted. Using asterisks in references to the racial epithet, Collins continued, “Do they think they won’t be deported? profiled? beaten? Being a house n****r is still being a n****r. You’re still considered ‘the help.’”
Staff writer Emma Talley contributed to this story.
Jill Tucker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jtucker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jilltucker
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