Right-wing push to influence voters to “Vote Against Woke”

With just days to go until the municipal elections, there’s concern about a right-wing push to influence the vote by focusing on the so-called “woke” culture.

The concern stems from a website called “Vote Against Woke.” The website takes aim at school board elections taking place next week and the anti-racism, pro-gay rights, and progressive stand of some candidates.

The website refers to woke “extremists” whose positions contradict the rights of others, like the right to free speech.

The website lists candidates for school boards who it says may agree with the anti-woke stand, although it notes the candidates are not associated with the website. The site links to a Twitter page called “how woke are our schools?”

Political science professor Peter Grafe says this is a new version of conservativism, “they’re making that point, they’re unhappy with the way things have changed in society.”

Graefe says the anti-woke movement is the latest manifestation of right-wing activism seen in things like the Ottawa truck blockade.

“I think there’s been a variety of different mobilizations beyond the traditional conservative party who are really protesting social change, whether it’s a greater concern to questions of racial inequality, whether it’s a greater place for queer people,” Graefe said.

Jeff Pelich of the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario (EFTO) says this anti-woke campaign is scary stuff for students.

“It creates an environment of fear. There are students in our system who identify as trans, they may identify as the 2SLGBTQ community. They may identify from a variety of different racial viewpoints. They really struggle when trustees are questioning why they should be included in the classroom,” Pelich said.

Pelich says teachers are disturbed, “they’re worried because they don’t know what their school system, their employer, is going to believe after this election.”

Pelich also points out that it’s not clear who is behind the “Vote Against Woke” website.

CHCH News asked for an interview through the website’s contact system today but didn’t hear back.

The EFTO official CHCH News spoke to said this anti-woke campaign may make this election for school boards one of the most important we’ve ever seen.

In the case of the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB), Vote Against Woke recommended five of the 15 candidates. CHCH News reached out to all five of those recommended candidates but wasn’t able to get interviews about this. One candidate got back to CHCH by email, Amy Cowling said she’s running to be an advocate for all students and wants to see transparency and accountability for what happens in the classroom.