Exposing the Opposition
Photo: Asra Nomani, WUSA9
Asra Nomani
Conservative activist Asra Nomani has a long history of being provocative. A former Wall Street Journalist reporter who left to write a book on tantric sex, she gained notoriety for defending Donald Trump and voting for him in 2016. The backlash was fierce and many in the Muslim community accused her of being an Islamaphobe for her actions. Nomani is a frequent contributor to FOX News. Recent examples include attacking President Biden and fearmongering LGBTQ books. Despite all evidence to the contrary, Nomani still regards herself as a “liberal Muslim” and a typical public school parent.
In 2020, she formed the Coalition for TJ, a conservative activist group seeking to roll back equitable admissions changes that has ties to the GOP.
Coalition for TJ (C4TJ)
Founded in August 2020 by parents of current and prospective TJ students, Coalition for TJ’s primary goal is to eliminate equitable reforms and maintain a high percentage (>70%) of Asian students in the incoming class.
Photo: Harry Jackson, Newsweek
Harry Jackson
A founding member of the Coalition for TJ, Harry Jackson is also one of the loudest. He has made numerous media appearances, speaking against the TJ admissions reforms. Jackson has also appeared on FOX News to complain about “woke culture” and “DOJ intimidation”. Jackson has also been extremely critical of the Fairfax County NAACP, accusing it of being dominated by “white liberals”. He is also part of Parents Defending Education (PDE).
In July 2021, Jackson took over as President of the TJ PTSA, after the former President resigned due to harassment. His tenure was short-lived. Jackson resigned in October after the Virginia PTA strongly condemned his behavior.
Parents Defending Education (PDE)
Parents Defending Education (PDE) is a recently formed conservative activist group led by known conservatives associated with the Koch network and opponents of affirmative action such as Edward Blum, who baldly said "I need Asian plaintiffs" after the U.S. Supreme Court sided with the University of Texas' Top 10 policy, which granted automatic admission to teens in the upper 10 percent of their high school class.
