Antioch District 117 board member Sue Dickson shared an image from the “Keep NYC Trash Free” campaign, which is widely viewed as portraying conservative white families as trash, a move critics say disrespects the community. | Michael Scornavacco
Antioch District 117 board member Sue Dickson shared an image from the “Keep NYC Trash Free” campaign, which is widely viewed as portraying conservative white families as trash, a move critics say disrespects the community. | Michael Scornavacco
Antioch Community High School District 117 Board Member Sue Dickson is facing backlash over a social media re-post from a meme campaign that depicted white, conservative individuals wearing red ball caps with the included slogan “Keep NYC Trash Free."
The controversy intensified after an op-ed in the Lake County Gazette by Antioch Republican Committeeman Michael Scornavacco spotlighted Dickson’s post, arguing that it insulted the vast majority of Antioch families and violated the district’s standards of respect.
Dickson's post prompted criticism from some parents who felt it demeaned the families she was elected to represent. In the 2024 presidential election, over 120,000 Lake County voters supported President Donald Trump.
Dickson deleted her Bluesky social media account within hours of the op-ed’s publication on Sept. 29, without issuing a public explanation.
Critics have increasingly raised concerns about Bluesky’s tone, as the platform, popular among left-leaning users, hosted what many viewed as celebratory or callous reactions to Charlie Kirk’s assassination.
“After my op-ed was published exposing Antioch School Board Member Sue Dickson for reposting content that labeled white conservative families as ‘trash,’ her response was not to apologize or explain herself,” Scornavacco told the Lake County Gazette. “Instead, she immediately deleted her Bluesky social media account.”
Scornavacco said instead of addressing the issue head-on, Dickson appeared to be attempting to erase the evidence.
“That is not accountability,” he said. “That is damage control. Deleting an account does not erase what she posted, nor does it erase the contempt she showed toward the very families she was elected to represent.”
Community members say the deletion only deepened concerns.
“Antioch parents and taxpayers deserve transparency, honesty, and leadership that builds trust,” Scornavacco said. “What we got from Ms. Dickson was silence and evasion. The fact that she scrubbed her account within hours of being called out only reinforces the seriousness of her misconduct.”
“This is not about partisan politics. This is about decency, respect, and accountability. If a school board member cannot own her actions, cannot defend them, and instead tries to cover them up, then she has no place making decisions for our children.”
Notably, District 117 has made public commitments to maintaining a culture of respect. The board’s own statement declares that “bullying, harassment, racism, sexism, and hate speech have NO place in Community High School District 117.”
District 117 community members are questioning whether a board member who publicly shared such content can continue to serve effectively.
The district has not responded to requests for comment or stated whether Dickson’s actions violated policy or could lead to disciplinary action.
The issue is expected to be addressed at the District 117 board meeting on October 16, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. at Lakes Community High School.
According to Scornavacco, parents have already begun organizing to demand that the board formally censure Dickson and call for her resignation.
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