District 11 board member accused of racist comments and spreading misinformation about COVID-19
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (KRDO) – Christopher Wright, a Colorado Springs citizen, claims that District 11 board member Al Loma has made racist comments and is actively spreading COVID-19 misinformation on his social media pages.
“I’m not interested in an apology or an answer, I’m only interested in his resignation. That’s all I want,” Wright said.
Wright’s calls for Lomas’ resignation stem from social media posts about vaccine mandates, the Clinton campaign and President Joe Biden. In response, he plans to protest outside Loma’s church, Victory Outreach every Sunday and Wednesday until May 1, the first day Loma can be recalled.
There was also an incident where Wright says Loma told a D11 parent that he would “gangster” them after public comment during a D11 board meeting.
“My preference would be for him to publicly apologize for the misinformation and violent racist comments he had made and resign so that our children are no longer exposed to his bigotry,” Wright said.
However, Loma has a different memory of the events that night. Loma told KRDO that his comment was to D11 inspector Michael Thomas in a private conversation days after the board meeting.
Loma says he addressed his parents’ concerns after a board member said, “You’re dancing with the devil and I’m the stick.”
“It was a lot like a sarcastic comment and I say, ‘Wow, what is this guy doing,'” Loma said. “I was a little shocked. I never talked to a parent that night.”
He says his private conversation with Superintendent Thomas was then taken out of context.
“I told him how I felt and within an hour he released it to the press. It’s dirty to say the least.”
Loma said he and Thomas have not spoken to each other since the private conversation. Loma claims Thomas has been on vacation ever since.
“I really do not know his intention. I do not know his heart. It questions a lot of things that I am worried about,” Loma said.
For Wright, he does not believe the allegation and sticks to his reasoning for saying that Loma had racist intentions in his words.
“Fortunately, people can look at an old racist and see an old racist, but the problem is that it gives the green light to a child who might think they might not be as good as I am,” Wright said.
Loma told KRDO that he has no plans to resign due to the pressure. He considers the accusations to be a blessing.
“I consider this attack a success because I have to do something right. I did not realize that anyone was aware of me at all,” Loma said.
KRDO contacted District 11 to get a comment on the allegations Saturday. At the time of publication of this article, we have not yet heard back. However, we read D11’s code of ethics.
It does not appear that Loma’s posting on social media or conversation with Superintendent Thomas violated the Code of Ethics for their employees or board members.
Loma says he will invite protesters into his church on any given Sunday or Wednesday.
“We are for them. No matter what they have been told, I do not know what they have been told, but I worry about all the people who show up tomorrow. I am not their enemy. I hope I one day will be their pastor, “said Loma.