Local Virginia Lawmaker Under Fire For Remarks About Immigrants

CHESTERFIELD, Va. (AP) – The chairwoman of the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors is under fire for comments she made about immigrant students and non-native English speakers in county schools.

Media outlets report Dorothy Jaeckle made the comments during a budget work session earlier this month. Jaeckle said, in part, that parents want their children to “be in a classroom that’s more English-speaking.”

She also referred to the recent nationwide protest, “A Day Without Immigrants,” saying “teachers said it was so nice to have a whole class that understood English.”

The comments appeared in a March 18 Richmond Times-Dispatch article. Chesterfield County is just south of Richmond.

Members of the public, including members of the Chesterfield NAACP, rallied Wednesday outside the Chesterfield Schools building and called for Jaeckle’s resignation.

During the Wednesday Board of Supervisors meeting, Jaeckle said her comments were taken out of context.

Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. (PHOTO: Chesterfield Co. Board of Supervisors)

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