Dan Loeb, who chairs the board of Success Academy charter schools, was accused last week of making racist comments on his Facebook page. On Friday, protesters called for his resignation outside Success Academy in Harlem. NY1's Zack Fink filed the following report.
Demonstrators say the comments from Dan Loeb, in which he claimed people who disagree with him on education policy have done more to hurt black children than the KKK, are unacceptable, and he must step down as Success Academy board chair.
Among those Loeb attacked was Democratic Senate Conference Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins.
"Daniel Loeb has demonstrated a lack of regard for African Americans and Jews and people who have been terrorized by white supremecists in this country throughout its history," said Kirsten Foy of the National Action Network.
Loeb's incendiary comments came a particularly bad time. Over the weekend, violence erupted in Charlottesville, Virginia, and actual members of the Ku Klux Klan engaged in violent clashes.
It was also revealed earlier this week that Loeb had compared those he disagrees with to the Klan before in a separate post. He issued a short apology and took the posts down.
"You cannot brush that away with a couple of sentence apology," said state Senator Brian Benjamin of Manhattan. "What kind of disrespectful stuff is that? That's worse than the comment."
Critics are also leaning on Success Executive Director Eva Moskowitz, who took several hours to respond to Loeb's comments, then seemed to agree with at least some of Loeb's sentiment by saying, in part, "while it is true that anti-charter policies hurt children of color..."
"As an educator, I am outraged that it took so long for Eva Moskowitz to even say anything because she should have said this from the beginning," said teacher Mindy Rosier. "Since all of her schools are in low-income areas. All of her students are black and brown students."
Moskowitz recently sent a letter to parents distancing herself from President Donald Trump.
At least one Success parent defended Loeb.
"No, I don't believe he should step down," said Natasha Shannon, a Success parent. "I believe there is always room for conversation. My childern make mistakes. I've made mistakes. Once you apologize, sometimes you have to make amends and move on."
Protesters say they will continue this drumbeat until they get some results. And they may have some leverage. At the end of the day, Success takes public money. And adding schools are authorized by the SUNY board, the State University.