West Point Grad, Veteran Rep. Green demands USAF Professor of Critical Race Theory must be fired
Rep. Mark Green sent a letter to Acting Secretary of the Air Force, John P. Roth, calling for the removal of Professor Lynne Chandler García from her teaching position. Green said:
“Professor García’s comments on Critical Race Theory are utterly unacceptable and incompatible with the mission of our United States Military Service Academies. Disparaging the United States as a racist country should disqualify anyone from teaching at one of our country’s most prestigious institutions. Our service academies prepare young men and women to fight for our country. How can we expect anyone to fight for a country they are taught is racist?
“As a graduate of West Point and Army veteran of two decades, I know firsthand what is taught at these service academies leaves a lasting impact. It was at West Point where I first raised my right hand and took the oath to defend our Constitution. If we want servicemembers who are proud to defend this country, we must not denigrate the very principles upon which it was founded. Making them ashamed of their country only decreases morale, retention, and unit cohesion. Critical Race Theory is a Marxist ideology that teaches the only way to right previous racial discrimination is to implement racial discrimination today. This goes against our Founding principles–not to mention illegal. If we allow this destructive ideology to be taught in our Military Service Academies, we will be responsible for this nation’s demise. Professor García must be removed from her teaching position.”
Dear Acting Secretary Roth: Professor
July 7, 2021
Lynne Chandler García’s full-throttled attack on our country and her support for Critical Race
Theory render her unqualified to teach in one of our prestigious military academies. How are our future Air Force leaders supposed to take an oath to defend the Constitution if they are being taught that it is racist and promotes inequality?
As a graduate of West Point and Army veteran, I know firsthand what is taught at these service
academies leaves a lasting impact. It was at West Point where I first raised my right hand and took the
oath to defend our Constitution. My professors there taught me the importance of serving our nation both in uniform and in public office. And it was at West Point where I was first inspired to run for
office.
Teaching our next generation that our country is fundamentally racist is not only propagandizing lies
about our great nation, it will also undoubtedly leave an impact on our nation’s Armed Forces and
national security. If we want servicemembers who are proud to defend this country, we must not
denigrate the very principles upon which it was founded. Making them ashamed of their country will
only decrease morale, retention, and unit cohesion.
Critical Race Theory teaches that the only way to right past racial discrimination is with present racial
discrimination. This teaching is utterly incompatible with the principles in the Declaration of
Independence and the Civil Rights Movement—not to mention illegal. Our country already lived
through a horrific era when people were judged by the color of their skin rather than by the content of
their character—we must never go back to this way of thinking.
Lastly, the Constitution has brought freedom and self-governance, not only to the United States of
America, but to nations around the globe. Our men and women in uniform have been fighting for the
ideals of democracy, freedom, and equality throughout the world ever since. To suggest that these
causes and wars were birthed out of racism disrespects those who died fighting against the Nazis in
Europe, communists in Asia, or terrorists in the Middle East.
If we allow this destructive ideology to be taught in our Military Service Academies, we will be
responsible for this nation’s demise. Professor García must be removed from her teaching position, and for the sake of our national security: Stop Critical Race Theory from being taught in our military service academies. Sincerely, Mark E. Green, MD Member of Congress
Congressman Mark Green grew up on a dirt road in Mississippi. He came to Tennessee in his last assignment in the Army as the flight surgeon for the premier special operations aviation regiment. As a Night Stalker, Green deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan in the War on Terror. His most memorable mission was the capture of Saddam Hussein. During the mission, he interrogated Hussein for six hours. The encounter is detailed in a book Green authored, A Night With Saddam. Congressman Green was awarded the Bronze Star, the Air Medal with V Device for Valor, among many others.
After his service in the Army, Green founded an emergency department staffing company that grew to over $200 million in annual revenue. The company provided staffing to 52 hospitals across 11 states. He also founded two medical clinics that provide free healthcare to under-served populations in Memphis and Clarksville as well as numerous medical mission trips throughout the world.
His 24 years of service—between the Academy, active duty Army and Army Reserves—have impressed upon him the need for a well-cared for military family. Green made veteran families a priority during his time in the Tennessee State Senate, and has continued to do so during his time in Congress. His first bill introduced in the House was the Protecting Gold Star Spouses Act that allows for spouses to continue receiving benefits during government shutdowns. He introduced another bill for Gold Star families, the Protecting Gold Star Children Act, which places children receiving benefits in the appropriate tax bracket.
Green has also worked to improve resources for the mental and physical health of veterans. He introduced the Spiritual Readiness amendment to the NDAA to address spiking numbers of veteran suicides. In addition, he led the bipartisan fight to include provisions for veterans subjected to toxic exposure while serving at the K2 Air Base in Uzbekistan during the War on Terror. In January of 2021, the President signed an Executive Order modeled after Rep. Green’s bipartisan K2 Veterans Toxic Exposure Accountability Act that requests the Secretary of Defense recognize Uzbekistan as a combat zone for purposes of medical care. This action represents a crucial step toward recognition of K2 veterans’ severe and deadly service-connected illnesses.
His time serving in the Armed Forces also made him aware of the need for strong American leadership internationally and the threat China poses to this generation. Green has introduced 5 bills to hold China accountable: The Our Money in China Transparency Act, the Bring American Companies Home Act, the Protecting Federal Networks Act, the Secure Our Systems Against China’s Tactics Act, and the China Technology Transfer Control Act. He also introduced a resolution demanding China’s repayment of sovereign debt held by American families.
Rep. Green previously introduced a bill banning Critical Race Theory training in America’s Military Service Academies.
Rep. Green Introduces Bill to Block Critical Race Theory Training in US Military Service Academies
WASHINGTON–Rep. Mark Green is introducing a bill to fight back against Critical Race Theory (CRT) training in US Military Service Academies.
Critical Race Theory is a school of thought that teaches America–and every American institution–is based on a foundation of racism, instead of upon the principles of equality, justice, and freedom. Under pressure from the Pentagon, Service Academies have implemented Critical Race Theory initiatives ranging from mandatory diversity training to reading lists that include Ibram X. Kendi’s How to be an Antiracist. Some Service Academies have even gone as far as to add a Diversity and Inclusion minor.
Rep. Green, a graduate of West Point said, “Critical Race Theory is based on a massive and purposeful misunderstanding of the American founding, American history, and America as it exists today. This is a Marxist ideology created to tear American institutions down. It teaches Americans and members of the Armed Services to judge one another by the color of their skin instead of by the “content of their character.” America should never go back to this kind of thinking. A curriculum based on Critical Race Theory seeks to divide Americans instead of unite them.”
“The United States military service academies are designed to train leaders and warriors for combat—men and women of every race, creed, and religion. Critical Race Theory’s divisiveness will destroy the unit cohesion necessary to win in combat and defend this nation.”