Elizabeth Warren Lies About Where Her Son Attended School—Campaign Walks it Back Less than 24 Hours Later

Sarah Carpenter is a black mother and grandmother from Memphis, Tennessee who has been fighting for better schools for decades. She was part of the group, Powerful Parent Network, that disrupted Elizabeth Warren’s rally in Atlanta on Thursday night. She was also one of the people, along with long time school reform advocate Howard Fuller, who was given the opportunity to speak with Elizabeth Warren.

Sarah Carpenter explained to the Senator that parents (and grandparents) like her just want the same choices that Warren had for her family—Carpenter then goes on to say that she read that Warren’s children attended private schools. Warren quickly responds, “no, my children went to public schools.”

Elizabeth Warren lied to Sarah Carpenter’s face.

Within less than 24 hours, the Warren campaign confirmed that what the candidate said last night was not accurate. In fact, it was Ms. Carpenter who had it right, despite Warren’s quick dismissal of her suggestion. According to the campaign, Elizabeth Warren’s son attended private school from 5th-12th grade. Her daughter attended public schools.

The same person who put out an education plan that is hostile to charter schools and vows to eliminate private school choice, rejects the notion that black and brown are entitled to the same self-determination—the same freedom—that she has always enjoyed.

It is unacceptable. Poor children are as deserving of a quality education as affluent children. Black children are as deserving of a quality education as white children. Sarah Carpenter’s children and grandchildren are as deserving of an excellent school as Elizabeth Warren’s children and grandchildren.

Warren disagrees. That disagreement—coupled with her blatant dishonesty and hypocrisy—is disqualifying.