Michele Morrow and Mo Green are running to become North Carolina’s next Superintendent of Public Instruction (File photos)
North Carolina education advocates and parents gathered at a virtual event last night to criticize Republican nominee Michelle Morrow’s candidacy for Superintendent of Public Instruction, warning that her extreme views and rhetoric could undermine the state’s public schools.
The event, which was entitled “Save Our Schools,” was sponsored by a collection of progressive advocacy groups including Progress NC and featured a line of speakers who detailed Morrow’s troubling history of making inflammatory statements, including promoting conspiracy theories.
“Michelle Morrow has repeatedly disqualified herself from this position,” said Ebony Pinnix, a parent organizer with Down Home Carolina. “Her numerous calls for violence and long list of bigoted statements makes it clear that she would not be a role model of conduct or civility for our children.”
Tyler Swanson, who defeated Michelle Morrow in a 2022 election to serve on the Wake County school board, said Morrow’s views are too extreme and disconnected from the community, as evidenced by her loss in that race.
“Voters came together to reject her views, to reject her notion and to say no to the to the extremism that she was trying to push for,” Swanson said.
Throughout the event, organizers played clips of Morrow from her presence at the U.S. Capitol during the January 6 riots, highlighting her controversial statements. In one clip, she proclaimed, “We are here to take back America,” and warned that the “largest threat to our constitutional republic right now is the indoctrination happening in our public education system.”
In another clip, Morrow expressed concerns about mental health initiatives in schools, saying that they allow clinics to “prescribe medications like hormones for your children without your consent.”
Speakers also contrasted what they said is Morrow’s extremism with the qualifications and track record of her opponent, Maurice “Mo” Green, who previously served as superintendent of Guilford County Schools.
Dr. Kim Morrison, former Superintendent of Mount Airy City Schools, said Green’s experience in managing large school districts makes him the right choice to lead the state’s public schools. “Green has been able to take care of thousands and tens of thousands of children,” Morrison said.
In a news release emailed prior to the event, Morrow’s campaign criticized the gathering, saying, “’Maurice More Money Mo’ and his deep pocketed, radical friends have spent more than a half-million dollars on TV ads, digital ads and mailers — all anti-Michele — all smears, no issues, no solutions.”
Last month, Green launched his first television ad, entitled “Dangerous,” as part of a seven-figure statewide campaign, highlighting Morrow’s past controversial statements and actions. Footage includes Morrow during the Jan. 6, 2021 U.S. Capitol riot, during which she livestreamed while advocating for a military coup and involved her children in the event.
The ad also depicts her calls to set the U.S. Constitution “to the side” and her rhetoric suggesting that Satan has taken over public schools, alongside calls for the execution of leaders like former President Barack Obama.
The ad also shows Morrow alongside Mark Robinson, the current lieutenant governor and Republican gubernatorial nominee. Robinson has come under renewed scrutiny after reports surfaced last month detailing his history of racial and sexual online comments.
Green’s campaign is attempting to link Morrow to Robinson, who is lagging behind in the polls, hoping that this association will dissuade voters from supporting her by highlighting their shared history of attacking public school educators and advocating for violence.