Garofalo Responds to Losing Chair of House Education

Chalmette Representative Ray Garofalo issued a three-page response after being asked by House Speaker Clay Schexnayder to step aside for the remainder of the session from his post as House Education Chairman. The controversy started when Garofalo presented a bill in committee to prohibit divisive concepts in schools.

“I said I’m not resigning and I’m not stepping aside at which point he said well ok then you’re out,” said Garofalo.

While presenting House Bill 564, Garofalo made a statement that said if you are discussing slavery then you can talk about everything, the good, the bad, and the ugly. The statement went viral and Garofalo said the Black Caucus wanted him removed for his bill, not his comments, but said he was removed so tax reform legislation can pass.

‘Speakers told me that his tax reform bills took priority and that for him to get those bills through I had to step aside as chairman,” said Garofalo.

Garofalo said his remarks were taken out of context and he used the term in reference to teaching the entirety of a subject not that there were good parts of slavery.

“I said when you teach it you teach the good, the bad, and the ugly. I was referring simply to the entire body of work, I was not making a comment whether there was good, whether there was bad, or whether there was ugly,” said Garofalo.

Garofalo said he’s never apologized for his statement and there’s nothing for him to apologize for.