NC GOP candidate calls for ‘war,’ ‘American Revolution 2.0.’ What did she mean?

Michele Morrow, the Republican nominee for state superintendent of public schools, is denying she's calling for violence if she loses the election.

In a Sept. 30 email, Morrow told her supporters "this is the American Revolution 2.0," "we either willingly fight now, or we will be forced to fight on Nov 6th" and "this is war." In a statement Friday, Morrow said her prior email was "in no way calling for violence of any sort."

Instead, Morrow said she was speaking up for families and students in Wake County who "feel like their schools are a war zone."

"Our children are suffering and they need a superintendent that is going to fight for them, not cover up bullying, sexual assaults or violent attacks in our schools," Morrow said. "My choice of words reflects how students and parents are feeling. This is the fight I'm referring to and this is the fight that I will continue whether I am elected superintendent or not."

Morrow is expected to discuss her prior comments at a press conference Friday afternoon.

Mo Green, Morrow's Democratic opponent, has cited the Sept. 30 statements to say "advocating for violence is not new for Michele Morrow."

Green is the former superintendent of Guilford County Schools, which is the state third-largest school district. He is the former executive director of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, a group that funds progressive causes.

Morrow is a registered nurse, conservative activist, homeschool parent and former Christian missionary. Morrow defeated incumbent Superintendent Catherine Truitt in the March GOP primary.

'American Revolution 2.0'

Morrow had been urging people to join her and local pastor John Amanchukwu at the Oct. 1 Wake County school board meeting. She told supporters that it would be "the greatest 'commercial' for our campaign and it is FREE!"

Amanchukwu gave a speech accusing the district of giving students at Athens Drive High School a pornographic reading assignment. He was escorted from the board meeting in handcuffs when he refused to leave the podium after his time ran out.

"This is the American Revolution 2.0!" Morrow said in the Sept. 30 email . "We either willingly fight now, or we will be forced to fight on Nov 6th. This is war, ladies and gentlemen! Which side of history will you be on?"

Nov. 6 is the day after the election.

Morrow's 'dangerous and divisive rhetoric'

Green pointed Friday to how Morrow's past social media posts have talked about killing Democrats such as former President Barack Obama and Gov. Roy Cooper .

Green also pointed to how Morrow protested outside the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 and recorded a video that night encouraging President Donald Trump to use the military to stay in power .

"Now, as a candidate for North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction, she's repeating the same divisive and dangerous rhetoric ahead of the 2024 election," Green said in a statement. "Our children deserve leaders who will unite us and foster a safe, productive learning environment, not someone who calls for political violence over and over again."