Museum Curator Resigns After He Is Accused of Racism for Saying He Would Still Collect Art From White Men Irate employees of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art said the removal of Gary Garrels was "non-negotiable." Robby Soave July 14, 2020 Until last week, Gary Garrels was senior curator of painting and sculpture at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA). He resigned his position after museum employees circulated a petition that accused him of racism and demanded his immediate ouster. "Gary's removal from SFMOMA is non-negotiable," read the petition. "Considering his lengthy tenure at this institution, we ask just how long have his toxic white supremacist beliefs regarding race and equity directed his position curating the content of the museum?" This accusation—that Garrels' choices as an art curator are guided by white supremacist beliefs—is a very serious one. Unsurprisingly, it does not stand up to even minimal scrutiny. The petitioners cite few examples of anything even approaching bad behavior from Garrels. Their sole complaint is that he allegedly concluded a presentation on how to diversify the museum's holdings by saying, "don't worry, we will definitely still continue to collect white artists." Garrels has apparently articulated this sentiment on more than one occasion. According to artnet.com, he said that it would be impossible to completely shun white artists, because this would constitute "reverse discrimination." That's the sum total of his alleged crimes. He made a perfectly benign, wholly inoffensive, obviously true statement that at least some of the museum's featured artists would continue to be white. The petition lists no other specific grievances. You might think that one of the most prominent art curators in the country—with 20 years of experience at SFMOMA—would be able to weather such a pathetically weak accusation of racism. But in the current cultural moment, it appears not. Garrels promptly resigned. In a statement announcing his decision to step down, Garrels apologized for the harm his words caused, only slightly disputing the absurd charge against him. " I do not believe I have ever said that it is important to collect the art of white men," he said, according to artnet.com. "I have said that it is important that we do not exclude consideration of the art of white men." https://reason.com/2020/07/14/gary-garrels-san-francisco-museum-modern-art-racism/ Notice how these people go completely berserk and demand one of their colleagues be fired because he expresses something or makes a remark that opposes with their radical social activist beliefs. Even if he is one of them and has much more in common with them than differences. In a slightly older related story from three years ago, a college professor was forced to resign after standing up against and refusing to honor a "no whites" day, where a faction of student activsits were demanding that no white students or teachers show up that day, in a show of solidarity. He was one of the only professors who refused to go along with it. https://www.seattletimes.com/seattl...-of-protests-resigns-college-will-pay-500000/ Seems things are being run by mob rule from professionals who have turned amateur political activists in certain organization fields who are demanding total ideological conformity with their whacky social-political stunts.
This is the new normal they keep talking about. They've made it impossible to fight back, we let it go too long. I can only fight with my pocketbook and my vote.
That's not true, just leave those idiots in their urban 'woke' shitholes and live where sensible folks still roam...
I'm fortunate that my area is quite "normal" safe area, minimal crime, low taxes and virtually zero (or close to that) protests and riots, but I feel for those that share my values but live in an area with issues, not everyone can just pack up and move.
