Black Republican candidate for Wisconsin Lt. Gov. remarks on Menomonee Falls Black student club

Republican candidate for governor Tom Tiffany recently had comments about Menomonee Falls High School starting a Black student club, saying “D-E-I must D-I-E.”

“Race-based preferences are un-American, illegal, and must end,” he added.

The leading candidate for the lieutenant governor position on the Republican side is a Black man, Will Martin.

Given that Black student unions, whether in college or secondary school, started in the 1960s, Martin wouldn’t answer the Milwaukee Courier directly if BSUs should end as Tiffany said, but instead said clubs should be inclusive to all.

“My mother was one of the first students to integrate the high school I attended some 20 years later.  She did not have the benefit of a support organization that would have helped her navigate at her school in those days,” Martin said in a statement.

Martin said his mother, Tanya Martin, helped integrate his school in his hometown in eastern Tennessee. Tanya Martin would go on to be elected mayor of the city of Alcoa in 2022.

Will Martin said the problem that arises with BSUs is they are not open to all. 

“I fully support the ability of students of all racial and ethnic backgrounds being able to join and assemble voluntarily as members of an inclusive club designed to support, network with, and understand one another,” he said. “The important principle is ensuring that clubs are open to all without discrimination or exclusion.”

Tiffany’s comments were stated in a quote tweet from the Libs of TikTok, a right-wing social media platform operated by Chaya Raichik, that posts content typically about schools where they believe left-wing indoctrination is going on. 

“We reached out to the school asking why they are promoting race-based clubs for students and if a White club would be allowed, but they did not respond. How is this legal?” the account posted. 

The advisors for the club didn’t respond to a request for comment from the Courier.

Originally started amid the civil rights movement to help combat systemic racism, BSUs have remained across college and high school campuses as a way to foster cultural pride, provide safe and affirming environments, and advocate for racial equity.