Tay Anderson
{{short description|American politician}}
{{distinguish|Tai Anderson|Ty Anderson}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Auon’tai Anderson
| office = Director of the
Denver Public Schools
Board of Education
| image =
| alt = Anderson smiling, wearing a bow tie and a baseball cap
| caption = Anderson in 2020
| state = Colorado
| term_start = December 4, 2019
| term_end = November 28, 2023
| predecessor =
| successor =
| committees =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|07|05}}
| birth_place = Kansas City, Kansas, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Democratic
| spouse =
| children =
| parents =
| relatives =
| education =
}}
Auon'tai M. Anderson (born July 5, 1998) is an American politician and community organizer from Denver, Colorado. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as a director of the Denver Public Schools Board of Education from 2019 to 2023.{{cite news |last=Brambila |first=Nicole C. |date=November 28, 2023 |title=Auon'tai Anderson sits down for final interview before stepping off the school board |url=https://www.coloradopolitics.com/denver/auontai-anderson-final-interview-before-leaving-school-board/article_4a84a11b-13b2-5a0e-a7f9-1e5df5368d48.html |url-status=live |work=Colorado Politics |location= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231128193752/https://www.coloradopolitics.com/denver/auontai-anderson-final-interview-before-leaving-school-board/article_4a84a11b-13b2-5a0e-a7f9-1e5df5368d48.html |archive-date=November 28, 2023 |access-date=November 28, 2023}} In September 2021, he was censured by the board for "behavior unbecoming of a board member" following an investigation of allegations against him.{{cite web |last1=TABACHNIK |first1=Sam|title=More than 1,000 Denver students stage walk-out to call for Tay Anderson's resignation|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2021/09/20/denver-school-walkout-tay-anderson-censure/|website=The Denver Post |date=September 20, 2021 |accessdate=September 20, 2021}} Anderson was not charged as the original claims made against him were found to be unsubstantiated and the individual that was responsible for these allegations was deemed not be credible per investigators. Anderson was subsequently elected the Vice President of the Board of Education and elected the statewide President of the Colorado Black Caucus of School Board Members. After Anderson's term he became an educator in Denver Public Schools.
Early life and education
Anderson was born to Mia Anderson, a single mother who was a teenager when he was born.{{Cite web |url=https://www.kunc.org/guns-america/2019-04-17/activism-after-columbine-then-and-now |title=Activism After Columbine, Then And Now |date=April 17, 2019 |last=Paterson |first=Leigh |website=KUNC |access-date=December 20, 2020}} He grew up in Kansas City, Kansas, and moved to Denver to attend high school.{{cite web |last1=Fine |first1=Gabe |title=Meet Tay Anderson, Denver's Youngest School Board Candidate |date=July 21, 2017 |url=https://www.westword.com/news/tay-anderson-is-the-youngest-candidate-for-denver-school-board-9246081 |website=Westword |accessdate=July 29, 2020 |archive-date=November 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119033244/https://www.westword.com/news/tay-anderson-is-the-youngest-candidate-for-denver-school-board-9246081 |url-status=live }} He attended two other schools before settling on Manual High School, where he later became student body president. While at Manual, he decided to run to become a director of the Denver Public Schools Board of Education. At the time he was 19 years old, thus becoming the second youngest person to date to run for a Denver school board. (In 1977, Meyer Persow, ne Kadovitz, was 18 years old when he ran for the Denver School Board, finishing 11th out of 18 candidates).
Anderson lost that election, and instead enrolled at Metropolitan State University of Denver to study education and also began working in restorative justice within Denver Public Schools.{{cite web |last1=Asmar |first1=Melanie |date=August 15, 2018 |title=College student, former candidate jumps into Denver school board race – early |url=https://co.chalkbeat.org/2018/8/15/21108383/college-student-former-candidate-jumps-into-denver-school-board-race-early |website=Chalkbeat |accessdate=July 29, 2020 |archive-date=November 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119033323/https://co.chalkbeat.org/2018/8/15/21108383/college-student-former-candidate-jumps-into-denver-school-board-race-early |url-status=live }} He decided to run for the Board of Education again in 2019, campaigning on supporting low-performance schools, putting a pause on approving new charter schools, and reforming how punishment was conducted at schools. Anderson decisively won this election, and doing so ushered in Denver's first anti-reform, pro-union school board in over a decade.{{cite web |last1=Asmar |first1=Melanie |title=An end to Denver's school reform era? Teachers union-backed school board candidates win big |date=November 6, 2019 |url=https://coloradosun.com/2019/11/06/denver-school-board-election-results/ |website=The Colorado Sun |accessdate=July 29, 2020 |archive-date=November 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119033243/https://coloradosun.com/2019/11/06/denver-school-board-election-results/ |url-status=live }} In a three-way race, he won about 51% of the total vote.{{cite web |last1=Wingerter |first1=Meg |title=Final DPS results: Union-backed candidates win all 3 open school board seats |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2019/11/07/dps-denver-school-board-election/ |website=The Denver Post |date=November 7, 2019 |accessdate=July 29, 2020 |archive-date=November 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119033301/https://www.denverpost.com/2019/11/07/dps-denver-school-board-election/ |url-status=live }} He is one of the youngest elected officials in Colorado history, being just 21 at the time of his inauguration.
Early career
Anderson graduated from Manual High School in 2017.{{Cite web|title=Tay Anderson|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Tay_Anderson|access-date=2021-01-04|website=Ballotpedia|language=en}} His professional experience includes working as a restorative practice coordinator at Denver North High School. He is affiliated with March for Our Lives - Colorado.
Political career
Anderson was inaugurated into the Denver School Board on December 4, 2019.{{cite web |last1=Fleming |first1=Sara |title=Newly Inaugurated Tay Anderson Wants to Make the School Board More Accessible |date=December 6, 2019 |url=https://www.westword.com/news/tay-anderson-new-school-board-members-inaugurated-11561733 |website=Westword |accessdate=July 29, 2020 |archive-date=November 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119033302/https://www.westword.com/news/tay-anderson-new-school-board-members-inaugurated-11561733 |url-status=live }} The following January, Anderson helped pass a mandate requiring all Denver Public Schools to designate a gender-neutral bathroom, saying it would support the LGBT community.{{cite web |last1=Lopez |first1=Meghan |title=When it comes to gender-neutral bathrooms, differing opinions prevail as DPS passes resolution |url=https://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/360/when-it-comes-to-gender-neutral-bathrooms-differing-opinions-prevail-as-dps-passes-resolution |website=KMGH-TV |date=January 23, 2020 |accessdate=July 29, 2020 |archive-date=19 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119033245/https://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/360/when-it-comes-to-gender-neutral-bathrooms-differing-opinions-prevail-as-dps-passes-resolution |url-status=live }} Additionally, Anderson has led an effort to remove the Denver Police Department from public schools within the city.{{cite web |last1=Sachs |first1=David |title=Seizing on movement against racist policing, Denver school board members aim to get officers out of public schools |date=June 5, 2020 |url=https://denverite.com/2020/06/05/seizing-on-movement-against-racist-policing-denver-school-board-members-aim-to-get-officers-out-of-public-schools/ |website=Denverite |accessdate=July 29, 2020 |archive-date=November 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119033248/https://denverite.com/2020/06/05/seizing-on-movement-against-racist-policing-denver-school-board-members-aim-to-get-officers-out-of-public-schools/ |url-status=live }} Anderson was a de facto leader of Denver's George Floyd protests.{{cite news |last1=Oldham |first1=Jennifer |title=Colorado's youngest black elected official is now the face of Denver's protests |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/colorados-youngest-black-elected-official-is-now-the-face-of-denvers-protests/2020/06/04/b6f92410-a674-11ea-b619-3f9133bbb482_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=June 4, 2020 |accessdate=July 29, 2020 |archive-date=November 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119033316/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/colorados-youngest-black-elected-official-is-now-the-face-of-denvers-protests/2020/06/04/b6f92410-a674-11ea-b619-3f9133bbb482_story.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last1=Balingit |first1=Moriah |last2=Strauss |first2=Valerie |last3=Bellware |first3=Kim |date=June 12, 2020 |title=Fueled by protests, school districts across the country cut ties with police |language=en-US |pages=A6 |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2020/06/12/schools-police-george-floyd-protests/ |access-date=November 13, 2020 |issn=0190-8286 |archive-date=November 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119033317/https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2020/06/12/schools-police-george-floyd-protests/ |url-status=live }}
=State House candidacy=
On June 12, 2023, Anderson announced he was abandoning his Denver school board re-election campaign and would instead seek the 8th district seat in the 2024 Colorado House of Representatives election. The seat is currently held by Leslie Herod, who is term limited.{{cite news |last=Brambila |first=Nicole |date=June 12, 2023 |title=Anderson drops out of Denver school board race, announced state House run for District 8 |url=https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/auontai-anderson-announces-state-representative-candidacy/article_bd78f086-a787-5eb1-af9a-966446172702.html |work=Colorado Politics |location= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230612184658/https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/auontai-anderson-announces-state-representative-candidacy/article_bd78f086-a787-5eb1-af9a-966446172702.html |archive-date=June 12, 2023 |access-date=June 12, 2023}} Later, on January 9, 2024, Anderson announced he was withdrawing from the race, fearing that the number of black candidates in the race would divide the black vote and allow a non-black candidate to win.{{cite news |last=Goodland |first=Marianne |date=January 9, 2024 |title=Auon'tai Anderson drops out of state House race for 'preservation of Black political power' |url=https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/anderson-drops-out-of-hd8-primary/article_4d5ac8ea-af0a-11ee-bd1f-cbde77ea6bf8.html |url-status=live |work=Colorado Politics |location= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240109192734/https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/anderson-drops-out-of-hd8-primary/article_4d5ac8ea-af0a-11ee-bd1f-cbde77ea6bf8.html |archive-date=January 9, 2024 |access-date=January 16, 2024}}
Allegations of sexual assault
On March 26, 2021, Denver's Black Lives Matter affiliate, Black Lives Matter 5280, issued a statement saying a woman approached the organization in the previous month and reported that Anderson sexually assaulted her. The woman's name was not revealed in the statement, but she requested a public apology from Anderson and asked that he "seek help from a licensed professional with relevant expertise." Anderson issued a statement a day later denying the allegations. BLM5280 said Anderson "will not be welcome to share space with BLM5280 physically or on any of our platforms."{{cite news |last=Ricciardi |first=Tiney |date=2021-03-27 |title=DPS board member Tay Anderson denies sexual assault allegation |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2021/03/27/tay-anderson-sexual-assault-denial/ |work=The Denver Post |location= |access-date=2021-03-27}} After it released its initial statement, BLM5280 said "multiple" additional alleged victims had approached the organization to report that Anderson sexually assaulted them too.{{cite news |last=Cook |first=Lanie Lee |date=2021-03-27 |title=Organization says 'multiple' women claim sexual assault against DPS board member Tay Anderson |url=https://kdvr.com/news/local/organization-says-multiple-women-claim-sexual-assault-against-dps-board-member-tay-anderson/ |work=Fox 31 Denver |location= |access-date=2021-03-28}} Anderson again denied wrongdoing, but told Westword magazine that "although I would have never intended for anyone to feel unsafe or uncomfortable around myself or others, I deeply apologize to the women-identifying members of NAC for the impact of my actions."{{Cite web |url=https://www.westword.com/news/tay-anderson-new-claims-past-behavior-update-11936495 |title=Tay Anderson Apologizes After New Claims About Past Behavior Surface |date=April 5, 2021 |last=Roberts |first=Michael |website=Westword |access-date=April 6, 2021}}
On May 28, 2021, Denver Public Schools acknowledged that their board and the Denver Police Department were aware of new allegations of sexual assault against Anderson. Testimony before the Colorado State House Judiciary Committee on May 25 alleged the existence of a serial sexual predator within the school district, without naming Anderson specifically. Shortly thereafter police and the school district indicated they had been informed that the accusations were against Anderson specifically.{{Cite web|date=2021-05-29|title=New sexual assault allegations against Denver school board member Tay Anderson emerge during legislative testimony|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2021/05/28/tay-anderson-sexual-assault-allegations-denver-school-board/|access-date=2021-05-29|website=The Denver Post|language=en-US}}
After a third-party investigation was conducted, it was found that Fleming "had inconsistencies in her story, used inappropriate humor, and timed her report for Sexual Assault Awareness Month", leading the investigation to state the sexual assault allegations were unsubstantiated and "objectively implausible." Fleming refused to talk with the investigators, and nobody came forward to corroborate her allegations. The investigation also found "behavior unbecoming of a board member" which included "online flirtations with a 16-year-old student and coercive social media posts." Over 1000 students walked out of classrooms in protest of Anderson remaining on the board.{{Cite web|date=2021-09-15|title=Tay Anderson investigation finds sexual assault claims unsubstantiated, but details "behavior unbecoming of a board member" |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2021/09/15/tay-anderson-sexual-assault-investigation-report/|access-date=2022-05-29|website=The Denver Post|language=en-US}} The Denver school board voted 6–1 to censure Anderson for his behavior. Anderson was the sole vote in opposition to the measure, which was the first time the board had censured one of its own members.{{Cite web|date=2021-09-17|title=Denver school board votes to censure Tay Anderson |url=https://co.chalkbeat.org/2021/9/17/22679743/tay-anderson-colorado-censure-vote-results-denver-school-board|website=Chalkbeat|language=en-US}}
Anderson later pursued a defamation lawsuit (2021CV33673) against BLM5280, Fleming, and another political activist related to their public statements. In 2022, a Denver District Court judge dismissed the lawsuit, ruling that BLM 5280 "did not act with malice or reckless disregard for the truth." Following the dismissal of the case, the defendants filed for reimbursement of their legal fees under Colorado's Anti-SLAPP law. The judge agreed, and Anderson was ordered to pay $61,060 to BLM 5280 and Amy Brown.{{Cite web|website=Fox 31 Denver|date=2024-03-06|title=Auon’tai Anderson ordered to pay $61K in legal fees for defamation lawsuit|url=https://kdvr.com/news/local/auontai-anderson-ordered-to-pay-61k-in-legal-fees-for-defamation-lawsuit/}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Black Lives Matter}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Anderson, Tay}}
Category:21st-century Colorado politicians
Category:African-American people in Colorado politics
Category:African-American school board members
Category:Black Lives Matter people
Category:Candidates in the 2017 United States elections
Category:Members of the Democratic Socialists of America from Colorado
Category:People from Kansas City, Kansas
Category:Politicians from Denver