‘Book banning pastor’ draws crowd at APS meeting

The Albuquerque Public Schools Board of Education had company on Wednesday night.

A lot of it.

The outside and inside of the front entrance of the school district’s building in Uptown were packed with allies and detractors of John Amanchukwu, a pastor and national Christian activist who often draws attention to explicit content in school library books, oftentimes by reading passages aloud.

But Amanchukwu, a North Carolina resident known as “the book banning pastor,” did not read passages from any books when it was his turn to speak during the public forum portion of the APS school board meeting. Instead, he read prepared remarks from his phone criticizing APS and LGBTQ+ people, who showed up in droves on Wednesday.

“This district has become the P Diddy of the American education system,” Amanchukwu said, referencing the music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, who is awaiting trial on alleged sex crimes.

“It’s disgusting what you all are allowing to happen to children and boys going to school wearing thongs and wearing crop tops. This is unnecessary and unacceptable,” said Amanchukwu, who wore a red hat with white text saying “Make America Godly Again.”

He then stated “the nine realities of LGBTQ (people),” saying, in part, that disagreeing with their practices “doesn’t equal hate” and that people in support of “perverted” books in schools means they’re either perverted themselves or “an ally of perversion.”

When Amanchukwu was told by school officials to wrap up his remarks as his allotted one minute was up, he sighed and said, “If we’re going to have diversity, equity and inclusion, we need to allow everyone to have it — not just people who choose poor lifestyles. Maybe everyone else can have it like people who think otherwise.”

Amanchukwu’s behavior at some school board meetings has led to confrontations with law enforcement or board members to cancel meetings.

But that did not happen at the APS school board meeting on Wednesday. Proceedings were not paused or canceled, even though school officials planned for contingencies. Law enforcement was present inside the building and kept separated the people who had signed up to speak in person to the board and those who did not get a chance to speak.

The public forum garnered 44 speakers, 31 of them in person and 13 appearing virtually, APS board member Janelle Astorga said during the meeting. If anyone who signed up to speak was unable, they could email the board.

“We have received many emails already,” she said.

Those who spoke during the public forum included people of all ages: students, parents, teachers and community members, including pastors. Those who considered themselves LGBTQ+ also spoke.

Whittier Elementary School teacher Stephanie Walstrom was first to speak during the public forum, saying she came to “push back against the bigotry infiltrating our meeting tonight.”

APS parent Owen Brown told the board, “All students deserve to see themselves reflected in the books they read and the history they learn.

“If we take those books away, we are depriving students of the ability to understand complex and challenging issues. Book-banning diminishes the professionalism of all librarians in APS.”

Rev. Dr. Sarah Tevistownes, pastor at Church of the Good Sheperd and a parent of two APS graduates, said she was going to speak directly to "the folks who say they're here to protect kids" from certain types of literature.

"We all know they're not here to protect all kids — especially trans kids," Tevistownes said. "It's up to you to stand up to them and to stand up to them decisively, because if you don't, it will be at the cost of kids' lives — kids that you chose to let be further isolated, bullied and erased."

Otherwise, Tevistownes said, she and other clergy members would have to sit and talk with the parents of transgender children who took their own lives.

"I just don't think I can do that," Tevistownes said as her voice began to break. "Can you?"

Amanchukwu left midway through the public forum and he was surrounded by protesters in the hallway. Sloan Adams, a leader with the conservative nonprofit Turning Point USA, spoke in his place. Adams said he did not attend the meeting to condemn or judge anyone.

“I’m here to tell you that you’re right; your identity is important. Struggling with this is actually a part of being human,” Adams said. “But these issues go deeper than pronouns or gender selection.”

Adams railed against pornography and the ability for children to choose their gender without their parents’ permission.

On Wednesday, Amanchukwu, flanked by security personnel, was greeted like a rock star —and a villain — when he arrived at the APS Building on Uptown Boulevard. He was directed by officials not to stand in the long line to the entrance and instead to come inside.

As Amanchukwu made his way to the entrance, he was cheered and jeered. Once inside the building, one supporter could be heard saying, “Thank you for coming,” while a protester shouted, “Go home!”

Amanchukwu took video with his phone of a protester wearing a rainbow shirt before entering the meeting room. He took more video as he left the APS building with protesters following him to his car.

When asked by the Journal why he came to Albuquerque, Amanchukwu replied, “to speak at the school board meeting.” But he didn’t stand for questions and instead got in a car that drove him away.

Board President Danielle Gonzales issued a statement following the meeting:

“While we respect differing opinions on these kinds of topics, we need to be clear: For both the Board of Education and Superintendent Gabriella Blakey, our biggest challenge in Albuquerque Public Schools is improving student outcomes. Clearly, issues such as those brought up during public comment are important. That said, the board and the district are committed to following the law and ensuring the safety of our children.”

Gonzales said the board and district appreciates public debate on issues, “but we’re also aware the overriding issue at APS is making certain our students are proficient in math and reading; are college and career ready; and have the skills needed to operate in the world long after they leave us. That’s the mandate the community has given us, and it’s one we will pursue with passion.”

Gonzales told the Journal prior to the meeting that she knew Amanchukwu was coming and what his message was likely to be.

She said in the interview that the board and Superintendent Gabriella Blakey, who was not present at Wednesday’s meeting, “value public input” and freedom of speech. She said they are focused on improving student outcomes.

“I think as some of these controversial subjects come up, they can be a distraction, but I trust that the administration will be able to deal with them effectively,” Gonzales said.