Mark Traina, a school psychologist in Louisiana, has been using his twitter account to spew racially-charged accusations about “young black thugs,” and now the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) is highlighting his comments in a civil rights complaint against the Jefferson Parish School Board. The complaint alleges that black students and disabled students are sent to “alternative” schools at a significantly higher rate than white students.
Below are Traina’s most damning tweets about black people and Trayvon Martin:
We are faced with a young Black Army of Thugs who have declared War on the American Way of Life-Holding America Hostage as we speak!
— Mark A. Traina (@MarkATraina) January 14, 2012
Young Black Thugs have created an atmosphere of Fear throughout America. The Real Terrorist live among us! Not over seas! Right here and now
— Mark A. Traina (@MarkATraina) January 14, 2012
Protesters march in Florida town where Trayvon Martin was shot: Black people need to STOP shooting one another! mark a. traina
— Mark A. Traina (@MarkATraina) April 1, 2012
But Traina’s opinions go even further than personal hatred for black youth. On his Twitter account, he goes into his politics, wondering, “Can President Obama win re-election if almost two-thirds of whites are opposed to him?” He has also voiced strong support for Alabama’s segregationist Governor George Wallace, Colorlines reports:
In another tweet about the Republican presidential primaries in March, Traina wrote, “I grew up in Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana – I am a Wallace Man at Heart!”
“It’s particularly alarming to have someone who works for the school system in a position of authority be pro-segregation,” Eden Heilman, a lawyer with the Southern Poverty Law Center told NOLA.com, referring to Traina’s remark about George Wallace, segregationist governor of Alabama.
The Jefferson Parish School Board is already investigating Traina’s tweets.
Update
Traina has resigned, according to a local Fox affiliate:
JP school psychologist Mark Traina resigns amid controversy overalleged racist remarks on twitter.
— News Desk (@WVUEFOX8) May 22, 2012
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