Will County Gazette

The Illinois Patriots, a conservative activist organization, recently staged a rally to express its dissatisfaction with a variety of topics, including the usage of masks in schools and the incorporation of critical race theory (CRT) into the school curriculum.

The organization is speaking out about the continuing controversy during a time when members of the National Education Association (NEA)  recently decided to support CRT education, according to the Illinois Review.

"With the censorship of social media, we decided to hold an event. I feel it's important for a community to come together and connect and educate everybody on what's going on and try to get everybody involved that the point of this whole event," Christina, a member the from Illinois Patriots said during the meeting.

The curriculum, which continues to infuriate many parents, is designed to critique "empire, white supremacy, anti-Blackness, anti-indigeneity, racism, patriarchy, capitalism and other forms of power and oppression," according to a report by the Sangamon Sun.

"Two years ago I went to my son's school, we went in the morning and we said the pledge and they told us to not sit down, there was a second pledge," Christina said, "We listened to the pledge and at the end of the pledge, it was 'become a positive global citizen,' that is when I realized indoctrination was in our schools; I was told the pledge was to teach my kids morals and ethics. Nope, that's my job, teachers are there to teach math, science, social studies, English and everything else."

According to Christina, she was ready to pull her son out of school but chose not to so he could remain with his friends, however, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, she took the opportunity to pull him out and homeschool him.

"My son who has already had a hard time in school, flourished in one year, it was amazing," Christina continued, "Now my kids unfortunately want to go back to school, they want to be with their friends, so it's my job as a parent to fight like hell for them and that's what I'm going to do."

According to a report from SE Illinois News, at least one Illinois school district is currently on probation and may be closed due to allegations that the district violated policy by easing mask rules.

The Red Hill School District was placed on probation on June 23 and the Illinois State Board of Education has made no public statement since the limitations were implemented.