Petition on ABS curriculum books and Garfield County Library sparks heated debate during a conversation with investigative journalists on Friday

Investigative journalist Logan Davis moderated a discussion about the influence of Christian nationalism on Colorado’s education system and political landscape at the Glenwood Springs Library on Friday.

The event, titled “Colorado Communities Stand Up to Christian Nationalism,” drew a sizable crowd of local residents both for and against Davis’ words. He touched on topics such as the American Birthright Standards (ABS) curriculum and a recent petition to remove Japanese manga books from the shelves of the Garfield County Library.

Davis opened the discussion by taking a close look at the controversial ABS curriculum proposed last year as part of the Garfield School District Re-2 social studies curriculum.

“I was surprised that a lot of the American Birthright Standards are just not right,” Davis said, criticizing the curriculum for distorting historical facts to promote a particular narrative. “It’s a bad curriculum because it had to be that way in order to present a certain version of American history and world history.”

As Davis was arguing with the crowd, the debate was further inflamed when a man loudly entered the room, holding a copy of the comic book “The Boys.” This action was in protest of an active petition calling for the banning of Japanese manga books from Garfield County libraries, which some residents believe contain “pornographic” content. Davis objected to this demonstration, pointing out the inconsistency of the arguments for censorship.

“You call for the removal of pornography from your libraries, and yet here you are displaying pornography in your library,” Davis responded.

Davis also addressed the broader impact of groups like Moms for Liberty, emphasizing their role in national movements aimed at reshaping American identity through educational content. He cited concerns raised by national education organizations about the potential negative impact of such curricula on students’ ability to participate civically.

Mae Gray, a member of the Coalition for Re-2, provided insights into the local school board’s experience, particularly in light of the controversy surrounding ABS’s proposed curriculum, which was supported by former Garfield Re-2 Board Chair Tony May.

Last year, May spearheaded efforts to implement the American Birthright Standards in the local school district. However, after facing opposition from both community members and district staff, the Re-2 board ultimately decided not to adopt those standards. In December, May resigned as board president, saying he wanted to “lower the political temperature in the boardroom and focus on school issues.” He now faces a recall election scheduled for August 27.

“We are currently in the middle of a recall process against Tony May to remove him as a school board member because of his poor decisions,” Gray said. “The people who were part of the Coalition for Re-2 have now become direct targets of public figures because we advocated for Tony May’s recall. The most hateful videos have been made about us. Community members have been accused and pilloried and more. Even tonight, this event has been altered and distorted by certain individuals.”

Outside the library, Glenwood Springs resident Trish O’Grady took a different stance. O’Grady, who initiated the petition about the contents of Garfield County Libraries, defended the presence of Christian nationalism.

“Don’t you think that our Founding Fathers thought of the Bible and invoked it when they wrote the Constitution?” O’Grady said.

Davis further explained Christian nationalism, explaining it as part of a global trend of religious nationalisms that manipulate religious sentiments for political ends. He compared it to Hindu nationalism in India and highlighted the political motivations behind such movements.

“Christian nationalism is a subset of religious nationalism that we have seen in different countries at different times,” Davis said. “I don’t hate Christianity. My father is a pastor and I grew up in a church. I think Christianity is a beautiful religion that has had a great influence on the American people, and I think Christian nationalism is a gross deviation from that that we should all stand against.”

As the discussion came to a close, Davis urged the community to engage and educate themselves on educational content. He challenged attendees, who continued to ask him questions throughout the evening, to think about the broader implications of limiting diverse educational materials.

“Why are you afraid that your children will learn something in school that you don’t believe in?” he asked, calling for open dialogue and different perspectives in education.