OHIO — The Ohio Education Association (OEA) is looking for answers after they discovered that a state school board member attended the riots at the Capitol Jan. 6.
The union, which represents more than 121,000 educators and school staffers, released a statement asking member Kirsten Hill to clarify her role in the riots.
OEA President Scott DiMauro wrote he was "deeply disturbed" after he found out one of the members took part in it.
"The actions of the insurrectionists and militants who attended the rally and who attacked our country that day are reprehensible and inexcusable, and we are calling on Kirsten Hill to denounce those fellow-rally attendees in the strongest terms," DiMauro wrote.
On the day of the riots, President Donald Trump supporters stormed the Capitol building in an attempt to stop Congress from counting and certifying electoral votes. They broke into the building, into the chambers, had standoffs with police and Congress members had to be moved to a secret location to keep safe. Six people died, including two Capitol Police officers.
Hill was elected in 2018 and represents District 2. She also serves as the chair of the Lorain County TEA Party. Under the events tab on the Totally Engaged Americans webpage, there's one for a bus trip to D.C. on Jan. 6 to support Trump and the attempts to overturn the election.
Down below is her name listed as the organizer.
"We’re answering the call to D.C. to support President Trump," she wrote on the page.
The Lorain County TEA Party is now encouraging another possible bus trip to Washington, D.C. on Inauguration Day, Jan. 20, further growing concerns of another riot.
State Sen. Teresa Fedor (D-Toledo) also released a statement Tuesday in response to Hill's bus trip.
“It was disturbing to learn that a duly elected official, who is responsible for the education of 1.7 million children, was challenging the results of a legitimate election. I question the judgement of someone who believes this election was stolen after no evidence was presented. Her actions undermine our democracy. Ms. Hill must explain why she planned this trip and what the goal was, if not insurrection. Further, she must denounce the actions of the insurgents who attacked our democracy, breached our Capitol building, and led to the death of five individuals. Everyone involved must be held accountable.”
Hill isn't the first Ohioan to come under fire for possible involvement in the riots.
Susan Allan Block resigned from the Ohio Arts Council late last week after she posted on social media, encouraging the riots at the Capitol.
On her Facebook, she wrote, “No Peace! No Unity! No Concession! No legitimacy to a stolen election!" and then called Vice President-elect Kamala Harris a derogatory name.
Susan is the wife of Allan Block, who is the chairman of Block Communications. It's the parent company of the newspaper the Toledo Blade. Susan is also the sister-in-law of John Block, who is the editor-in-chief of both The Blade and the Pittsburgh-Post Gazette. Since then, Toledo Blade journalists are currently on a byline strike after revealing the paper was censoring them from writing about the riots.
The company has been know to post editorial content in favor of the president, showing support for his policies.
Block Communications released this statement in response:
“Social media posts by Susan Block represent her individual views as a private citizen; she has a first amendment right to freedom of speech and her opinions. Her views do not represent those of Block Communications, Inc. or any of its affiliates. Susan Block is not an employee, shareholder or Director of Block Communications, Inc. or any of its affiliates.”
Christine Priola, a former Cleveland Metropolitan School District employee, also resigned following the riots after picture of her inside the Capitol building surfaced on social media. The picture, which was also used by the Department of Justice to track down those who broke into the building, reached the hands of the school district.
Although the district didn't confirm it was Priola, they released her personnell file and employment records. Officers also searched her home late last week, according to WKYC. As of Tuesday, charges haven't been filed.
In her resignation letter, Priola cited personal beliefs as the reason she couldn't continue working for the district. She states she was switching paths to expose the "global evil of human trafficking and pedophilia," including in the government and children's services agencies.
Priola also stated she was worried the district would mandate the vaccine, which she said she wouldn't take.
So far, around 100 people have been arrested in connection to the riots, according to the F.B.I.