BAEO joins Jindal in calling on Walker-Jones to resign

The Black Alliance for Educational Options is joining Gov. Bobby Jindal in chastising Michael Walker-Jones, executive director of the Louisiana Association of Educators, for recent remarks to The Times-Picayune. Commenting on the governor’s proposal to expand a program providing scholarships to low-income parents to allow their children to attend private schools, Walker-Jones was quoted as saying, “If I’m a parent in poverty I have no clue because I’m trying to struggle and live day to day.” Walker-Jones says the comments were taken out of context, and that he has since attempted to clarify them. Jindal is calling for Jones-Walker to resign over the comments. BAEO says he has “no business overseeing an organization that purports to serve a population he does not understand.” “We represent the very people he’s insulting,” says BAEO co-founder Howard L. Fuller. “As an organization of Black America for Black America, we’re outraged.” Adds BAEO President Kenneth Campbell in a prepared release, “Mr. Jones’ reckless comments make it pretty clear who doesn’t have a clue.”