Texas school board member on Facebook: Send KKK to Ferguson to 'settle sh** down'

A board member at a North Texas school district has resigned after posting an image of a Ku Klux Klan member with the caption "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas" and several racist remarks on his Facebook page last Monday. less A board member at a North Texas school district has resigned after posting an image of a Ku Klux Klan member with the caption "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas" and several racist remarks on his Facebook page ... more Photo: User, Raw Story Photo: User, Raw Story Image 1 of / 44 Caption Close Texas school board member on Facebook: Send KKK to Ferguson to 'settle sh** down' 1 / 44 Back to Gallery

A North Texas school board member has resigned from the school district after posting an image of a Ku Klux Klan member with the caption "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas" and several racist remarks on his Facebook page last Monday.

Hooks ISD Superintendent Ronnie Thompson told Raw Story that school board member Chris Harris submitted his resignation Wednesday. The district put out the following statement:

"Chris Harris, a current Hooks ISD board member, released on social media statements which have been characterized as racially sensitive. Mr. Harris has removed the posts and replaced them with an apology. The Board is conferring with legal counsel regarding what actions, if any, may be taken by the Board. The statements made by Mr. Harris are not reflective of the Board or the district. Mr. Harris is not an employee of the school district; he is a publicly elected official whose term expires in May 2015. Mr. Harris has submitted his resignation as of December 3, 2014. Hooks ISD school board will have a special called meeting to accept the Mr. Harris resignation and discuss options for appointing a board member to fill the vacancy. Until such time as the Board meets on December 8, 2014, the district will have no further comment."

Harris' original post was published last Monday after a grand jury in Ferguson, Mo., opted not to indict Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson for allegedly shooting and killing an unarmed black teenager, Michael Brown.

During a separate Facebook conversation in response to the grand jury's decision, Harris posted several racial remarks, according to Raw Story.

"I say the hell with the national guard (sic) let's bring the KKK in they will settle (expletive) down," Harris said.

In another post, Harris published a photo of a logo depicting a skull with two firearms making a crossbones symbol laid on top of rifle crosshairs. The logo contained the phrase, "Black Panther Hunting Club."

With the logo, Harris wrote, "The KKK is probably just sitting back till all these I do it's (sic) get tired then they come in and mop them up they are pretty smart."

He then published another photo of two KKK members whispering to one another with the caption, "Does this outfit make me look racist?"

In a much longer post, Harris responded to another commenter, "You might not think its (sic) funny but by god IG is the freaking truth last night all those thugs tearing up (expletive) that wasn't their did nothing but show how damn dumb they were just because they didn't like the outcome which was done by the law that gives them the right to teat (sic) up and loot other people's property (expletive) and I could tell that y'all racist (expletive) president was pissed to surprise his (expletive) didn't do an executive order to convict officer Wiso and Eric. Holder will probably spend so more of my tax money to investigate why the 'mean white guy got away with killing the poor nice black kid' my ass deal with and deal why my freedom of speech."

Harris said the KKK post, since deleted, was taken out of context and was meant as a joke, according to two apologies posted to Facebook, Talking Points Memo reported. He apologized for his multiple remarks.

"On last Monday, I took to social media to express an inner frustration that I unfortunately verbalize (sic) in a distasteful and embarrassing manner," Harris said in one apology.

Harris continued, "I am deeply sorry for misrepresenting my views, my town, this district, and my patriotism. My comments and my statements were an emotional and extreme response to an emotional and extreme allegation. I was being accused of being someone who I am far from being: a racist."

jfechter@mysa.com

Twitter: @JFreports