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WEBVTT CHANDI: THIS MEME CREATED A FIRESTORM IN THE PLUM BOROUGH SCHOOL DISTRICT. NOW THE SCHOOL BOARD HAS ACCEPTED THE RESIGNATION O BRIAN WISNIEWSKI. >> I THINK HE REALIZES THE MISTAKE HE MADE NOW, BUT I THINK IN THE DAY AND AGE WE LIVE IN THE RESIGNATION IS WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE. >> I THINK THE RESIGNATION WAS APPROPRIATE. I THINK IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO GIVEN THE CLIMATE OF THE SITUATION. I THINK MR. WISNIEWSKI DID THE SCHOOL DISTRICT A HUGE FAVOR BY RESIGNING. CHANDI: THE MEME HE REPOSTED ON HIS PERSONAL FACEBOOK PAGE, QUESTIONED WHETHER MUSLIM MEMBERS OF CONGRESS CAN BE TRUSTED WITH AMERICA’S TOP SECRETS. IN A LETTER TO THE COMMUNITY, WISNIEWSKI APOLOGIZES ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY AND UNDERSTANDS IT WAS WRONG. THE DISTRICT SAYS STUDENTS DESERVE MORE. >> THE PLUM BOROUGH SCHOOL DISTRICT VIGOROUSLY DISAGREED WITH AND CONDEMED THE FACEBOOK POSTING AND THE CONTENT THAT WAS REPOSTED ON A FORMER BOARD MEMBERS PERSONAL ACCOUNT. CHANDI: KENNETH HOUSTON WHO IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE ALLEGHENY EAST NAACP, AND OTHERS SAY IT’S TIME TO BRING BACK THE SCHOOL DISTRICT ’S DIVERSITY COMMITTEE THEY SAY THAT COULD BE THE FIRST STEP IN BOARD MEMBERS BEING ROLE MODELS WHILE LEADING STUDENTS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. >> I THINK OUR KIDS NEED TO BE READY TO TAKE ON THE PROBLEMS OF THE WORLD AND YOU CAN’T DO THAT IF YOU ARE NOT ALL INCLUSIVE OF EVERYTHING. PEOPLE WHO LOOK DIFFERENT, ACT DIFFERENT, HAVE DIFFERENT BELIEFS. >> WE WANT TO EMBRACE OUR DIVERSITY AND WE NEED TO DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO MAKE OUR DISTRICT ACCEPTABLE TO ALL CULTURES AND ALL RACES. CHANDI: THE BOARD ALSO PASSED A RESOLUTION, RESOLVING THAT ALL PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY WILL BE TREATED WITH RESPECT. AND STUDENTS WILL CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON EDUCATION. CHANDI CHAPMAN, PITTSBURGH’S ACTION N

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UPDATE: A Plum Borough School District board member who came under criticism for what he initially said was an accidental Facebook share has sent Pittsburgh's Action News 4 a copy of his resignation letter and apology.Below is the full letter from Brian Wisniewski."Dear Students, School Board Members, and Residents,"While I understand that free speech is part of what we as citizens are entitled to I understand that a recent post on social media has offended members of the Plum School Board and the community that I serve. I also understand that freedom of speech does not equal freedom from consequences."I want to sincerely apologize for the post that I reposted on my personal Facebook account in a moment of frivolity. It was not my intention as a School Board member to detract from the educational direction and mission of the school district. I accept responsibility for what I reposted and I have come to understand that it was wrong to do so. All forms of xenophobia are inconsistent with the values that I held dear during my 31 years as a member of the U.S. Air Force and the Air National Guard. The repost of a meme is not reflective of who I am, what I represent and what I stand for. I have had the honor and privilege to serve this country with people of various backgrounds, religions, and races and feel that our differences are what make us great. Those cultural differences we share help to make Plum a more desirable school district and place to live."Therefore, I feel it is in everyone's best interests to refocus on the education and safety of our students and mending the divide within the community. It is my hope that my resignation will help lead to that end. With that being said, I submit my resignation as a School Board member effective immediately. (February 9th, 2019)"I want to again express my sincere apologies for this situation, to anyone this post has inadvertently offended, and thank the citizens of Plum for the opportunity to serve them."Respectfully,Brian WisniewskiThe school board is scheduled to hold a special meeting Saturday morning, with the Wisniewski's resignation as one of the agenda items.Wisniewski told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 that he shared the post by accident and doesn’t agree with the content of the picture.Watch the report by @DKaplanWTAE in the video player above.The picture, shared by an account by the name Paige Hilgers, shows a man holding a gun in front of an American flag with the following text next to him: “Does it worry anybody that we have three devout Muslims in Congress who have unlimited access to our TOP SECRET GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS?”The post is a reference, in part, to freshman Democratic congresswomen Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, who are Muslim.The page for Paige Hilgers has posted several other memes critical of democratic politicians.“We have been made aware of an inappropriate reposted comment on a Board member's personal Facebook page. This District is not affiliated with this posting in any way. We vigorously disagree with and condemn the content of the post, and we do so in the strongest possible terms,” the district statement said.Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 got a statement Tuesday afternoon from Wisniewski, who said it was "an accidental share" and "not shared intentionally" and that he does not agree with the repost."This post was made on my personal account. I take ownership and full responsibility for all questions that are being raised," Wisniewski's statement read.Pittsburgh's Action News 4 reached out to Plum School Board President Scott Coulson and other school board members for more information or any possible discipline and has not heard back.A representative for district solicitor Bruce Dice says state law specifically requires a conviction of a serious crime to remove an elected official. Dayne Dice says no crime has been committed, so there's no real action that can be taken by the district.The post has made the rounds on community groups in Plum."I'm a white, middle-aged male, but if I was anything other than that, I would question how well am I being represented here in Plum," said David Weiss, a parent of two children in the district.Weiss says he fully agrees that Wisniewski has a right to post and believe whatever he wants. His concern is whether or not someone with those views can fairly represent all students in the district."If you're marginalizing a group, how are you leading? I can't see that being done effectively with that belief system," Weiss said. "Everybody should be treated fairly, equally."See Wisniewski’s original statement below:"In response to the meme I reposted on my personal Face Book Page. This specific meme was shared in succession with other varying topic memes that I shared. It was an accidental share. It was not shared intentionally. "I do not agree with the repost. "This post was made on my personal account. I take ownership and full responsibility for all questions that are being raised. "This is a demonstration of the power of social media "An opportunity to bring awareness to everyone using social media, just how quickly a shared post, tweet, or picture can sweep through a community to create discontent, confusion, and questions. "All justified in this particular situation."