Rodney Robinson called the neighbor who attacked Republican Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul a “hero” and suggested that neighbors of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell should “step up.”
The Virginia-based educator, who was named National Teacher of the Year in 2019, suggested Wednesday in a now-deleted tweet that McConnell deserved to be attacked in the same way that Paul was. (RELATED: ‘What Is The Problem?’: Bernie Sanders Waves Trump Tweet At Mitch McConnell, Demands Vote On $2,000 Checks)
2019 National Teacher of the Year pic.twitter.com/0PQTDxos3v
— Kyle Kashuv (@KyleKashuv) December 31, 2020
Robinson’s tweet read, “Who are Mitch McConnell’s neighbors? I’m just saying Rand Paul’s neighbor did what a true Kentucky hero should do. It’s your turn to step up.” (RELATED: ‘Petty Tyrants’: Rand Paul Spares No One In Annual Festivus ‘Airing Of Grievances’)
Kelley Paul, Rand Paul’s wife, fired back at Robinson in a tweet of her own, saying, “I am so disgusted by this I have no words. The 2019 ‘National Teacher Of The Year’ is celebrating the violent assault on my husband that resulted in 6 broken ribs and part of his lung being removed. This hateful thug is calling for more violence on Sen McConnell.”
I am so disgusted by this I have no words. The 2019 “National Teacher Of The Year” is celebrating the violent assault on my husband that resulted in 6 broken ribs and part of his lung being removed. This hateful thug is calling for more violence on Sen McConnell. @jack https://t.co/JLraxwLaZD
— Kelley Paul (@KelleyAshbyPaul) December 31, 2020
I encourage parents with kids at @RPS_Schools to call your school about one of your teachers celebrating a brutal attack on one senator and calling for violence against another. This teaches your students they should not dissent using reason and intellect, but violence. https://t.co/H0K5n9ve8B
— Kelley Paul (@KelleyAshbyPaul) December 31, 2020
Before locking his Twitter account, Robinson offered an explanation — not for his own tweet calling for the assault of an elected official, but for the backlash he was receiving for it.
“I made a Mitch Mcconnell joke today and the conservative bots are real angry. It’s funny because the joke was made early today and no one said a thing until I promoted black medical awareness,” he tweeted.
“bLaCk MediCaL aWaReNeSs” pic.twitter.com/06j5otpJUA
— MearaJM (@MillennialOther) December 31, 2020
Robinson apologized for the tweet Thursday, saying that he did not advocate violence against anyone and had not realized that Senator Paul was seriously injured when his neighbor attacked him several years ago.
“I recently made a bad joke on Twitter about Rand Paul’s fight with his neighbors in relation to Mitch McConnell’s neighbors and I was wrong for that. No one should be assaulted. Due to my ignorance of the situation, I didn’t know Rand Paul was seriously injured in the altercation,” Robinson explained. “I apologize for making light of his injuries. I do not advocate for violence against Mitch McConnell.”
Robinson, who teaches social studies at the Richmond Juvenile Justice Center, was named Teacher of the Year by the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO).
CCSSO praised Robinson for fostering “a positive school culture by empowering his students – many of whom have experienced trauma – to become civically-minded social advocates who use their skills and voices to affect physical and policy changes at their school and in their communities.”