A string of racist emails and controversial remarks have shaken up a school board in southeastern Virginia’s Isle of Wight County, and now one of the people responsible is facing intense pressure to resign.
On Thursday, board members voted 4 to 1 to officially call for their colleague Herb DeGroft to step down over emails he sent this month from his board email account attacking first lady Michelle Obama. DeGroft was the only one who voted against the measure.
According to NBC12, one of the emails DeGroft sent to colleagues depicted bare-breasted, African female warriors along with the caption, “Michelle Obama’s high school reunion.” Another message claimed the first lady was paid $50 to model in National Geographic.
The emails didn’t stop with DeGroft’s initial sending. Board of Supervisors Vice Chairman Byron “Buzz” Bailey forwarded them to other board members and county employees. Bailey drew criticism earlier this month for saying “the South will rise again” during a board meeting on budgetary issues. Those comments, as well as his involvement with the racist emails, led to the resignation of Isle of Wight Division Superintendent Katrise Perera.
