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Ciara O'Rourke
By Ciara O'Rourke October 7, 2020

No, fourth graders in Hillsboro, Ore., aren’t learning about ‘Justice Fighters’ like Antifa

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  • This isn’t true.
     
  • In fourth grade, Hillsboro students are taught about civic engagement and there’s a series of lessons called Justice Fighters that teach the kids about leaders who fight for justice. It includes Black leaders like Martin Luther King, but it doesn’t call out groups or movements like Antifa or Black Lives Matter.
 

Like many school districts, the one in Hillsboro, Oregon, has had to adapt to the pandemic and teach students remotely until they return to their classrooms. But a recent Facebook post suggests that the district is also updating its curriculum in response to another major news event: racial justice protests that have happened across the country over the deaths of Black people killed by law enforcement.

"Hillsboro school district has already placed Antifa, BLM in their curriculum as Justice Fighters," the post says. "Fourth grade. Did you know that?" 

This post was flagged as part of Facebook’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Facebook.) 

Beth Graser, a spokesperson for the Hillsboro School District, told us that the claim isn’t true — the district hasn’t added Antifa or Black Lives Matter to its curriculum as "Justice Fighters."

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In fourth grade, Hillsboro students are taught about civic engagement and there’s a series of lessons called Justice Fighters that teach the kids about leaders who fight for justice, Graser said. "It includes many races and genders of leaders, including Black leaders like Martin Luther King, but does not call out groups or movements like Antifa or BLM." 

We looked online for any news coverage or other evidence that supports the claim in the Facebook post but found none.

We rate this Facebook post False.

 

Our Sources

Facebook post, Sept. 20, 2020

Email interview with Beth Graser, chief communications officer, Hillsboro School District, Oct. 6, 2020

 

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No, fourth graders in Hillsboro, Ore., aren’t learning about ‘Justice Fighters’ like Antifa

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