Dems call out GOP lawmakers after leaked group chat suggesting ‘segregated schools’

BEDFORD, NH – A story published by left-leaning Granite Post about a leaked group chat among leaders of the NH House Education Policy and Administration Committee has prompted NH Democrats to call for the resignation of a Bedford state lawmaker – who chairs the committee – and fellow Republican committee co-chair for comments made about “segregated schools.”

While Democrats are calling out the leaked chat as an example of racism, a response issued by House Republicans suggests the conversation was about political segregation.

Neither Rep. Kristin Noble, R-Bedford, nor Rep. Katy Peternel, R-Wolfboro responded to a request for comment by Granite Post, which published the story, alleging a leaked group chat shows Noble advocating for “segregated schools” to help students perform better. 

Noble was put on blast in a memo released by the NH Democratic Party after the story was published on Jan. 14.

The emailed memo described the content of the chat, a copy of which was posted publicly by Granite Post [see below.]

After the story had circulated Wednesday, a statement attributed to the House Republican Office on behalf of Noble indicated that the reference to segregation was meant as political “self-segregation” by Republicans from “leftist indoctrination centers,” implying the desire for schools segregated by political ideologies.

However that statement did not explain what was meant by Noble’s comment, “…imagine the scores though if we had schools for them and some for us.“

NH Democratic Party Chairman Ray Buckley released the following statement:

“Segregation has no place in New Hampshire schools, this state, or this country, and any support for it is beyond the pale. There should be zero tolerance for discriminatory and bigoted remarks. Speaker Packard must immediately call on Rep. Noble to resign from her post as Chair of the Education Committee, and there should be an investigation into the NH GOP’s disgusting pattern of discrimination and dysfunction running rampant through the State House.”  

Also weighing in were Bedford Democratic Party co-chairs Katy Cutshall and Shana Potvin.

“Kristin Noble’s comments are appalling and do not reflect the values of our community. Every child in our community deserves access to a fair and quality public education. It’s shameful that Rep. Noble is focused on discriminatory policies instead of ensuring our schools are serving all of our students.”

New Hampshire House Democratic Leader Alexis Simpson (D-Exeter) released the following statement:

“Segregation is not a relic to be mocked; it is a living scar carved into our schools, our communities, and our democracy. It was built through violence, enforced by law, and justified by indifference. To laugh about it from the halls of power is to dishonor every child denied opportunity, every family forced to fight for dignity, and every generation that marched, organized, and sacrificed for equal access to education.

“Most concerning is that these comments about segregation were made by members of House Republican leadership, including the Chair of the House Education Policy Committee. We condemn Rep. Noble’s remarks in the strongest possible terms. Whether shouted, whispered, laughed about or typed in a signal chat to your colleagues, racism has no place in our legislature or our future. No one who believes in segregated schools should be leading the Education Policy Committee.”

The Granite Post is part of the Courier Newsroom, a partisan news organization in 10 states including New Hampshire, which is focused on supporting Democratic politics.