More than a week has passed since St. Paul school board member Chauntyll Allen proposed turning “White Christian cemeteries” into dog parks where dogs could “piss on the white corpses.”
Since then, Allen’s remarks have drawn national attention and prompted condemnation. But in Minnesota, the response has been strikingly different: the state’s legacy media have ignored the story, and St. Paul Public Schools (SPPS) has remained silent.
The silence has raised a question for some parents and taxpayers: What message does it send to white and Christian families who entrust SPPS with educating their children?
Meanwhile, Allen has not backed away from her comments. As of publication, the post remains publicly visible.
Allen, who receives an annual taxpayer-funded stipend of at least $18,000 as a St. Paul school board member, made the comments in a Facebook post amid the ongoing debate over the future of the Minnehaha Off-Leash Dog Park in Minneapolis.
After Alpha News first reached out to SPPS, a district spokesperson said only that they were “aware” of the social media post and had “no further comment.”
Since then, Alpha News again contacted the district seeking additional comment and asking whether the board condemns Allen’s remarks. The inquiry went unanswered.
Alpha News also reached out to Allen for this story but did not hear back.
Critic says double standard exists in school board coverage
Cristine Trooien, founder of the Minnesota Parents Alliance, said the lack of media scrutiny directed at Allen stands in stark contrast to the attention often given to school board members who question district policies.
“Major news outlets in the Twin Cities are remarkably quick to pile on professional, focused school board members who have raised questions about student achievement, ideological bias, spending and safety in our schools,” Trooien said.
“Yet, there has been zero scrutiny placed on members like Allen who have demonstrated time and again that they are unable or unwilling to conduct themselves with a modicum of respect that their constituents deserve, much less refrain from repeat radical, offensive conduct,” she added.
Trooien noted that Allen is one of seven elected officials responsible for overseeing a district that serves roughly 33,000 students and has a budget of more than $1 billion.
“If she can’t make sound decisions about her own speech and conduct as an elected leader, St. Paul voters should have little faith in her ability to govern the district effectively and should have demanded her resignation years ago,” Trooien said.
Three of the district’s seven seats on the school board are up for election this year — but Allen’s seat is not one of them.
Latest controversy involving Allen
The cemetery comments are the latest controversy involving Allen. She is currently facing federal charges in connection to the Jan. 18 invasion of Cities Church in St. Paul.
Federal prosecutors allege Allen participated in an anti-ICE demonstration that stormed the church during a Sunday worship service. Agitators disrupted the service to such an extent that the service had to be abandoned.
Allen has defended the storming of Cities Church, saying “I believe that’s what needed to be done to get the message across.”
Despite the pending federal charges, SPPS publicly celebrated Allen as a “Black Woman of Impact” during Women’s History Month in March.
Jenna Gloeb
Jenna Gloeb is an Edward R. Murrow Award-winning journalist, media producer, public speaker, and screenwriter. Most recently, she worked as a reporter and on-air host for CCX Media. Jenna is a Minnesota native and resides in the Twin Cities with her husband, son, daughter, and two dogs.
