Anti-racism instructor blames ‘right-wing media’ after protesting principal commits suicide

An anti-racism instructor who claimed Canada is more racist than the US has blamed the “right-wing media” for discrediting her group after a principal committed suicide while enduring alleged harassment for calling her out.

Kike Ojo-Thompson, founder and CEO of the KOJO Institute, told Toronto educators in 2021 that Canada could be deemed more racist because, unlike the US, it has “never reckoned with its anti-black history,” according to a related lawsuit filed against the school district.

Richard Bilkszto, 60 — a former teacher in Buffalo, NY, who served as a fill-in principal in Toronto and attended one of Ojo-Thompson’s training sessions — had claimed that the black female instructor openly bullied him for speaking out against her assertion during the session. He also said the school board appeared to side with her later.

He took his own life July 13.

Ojo-Thompson, who has come under fire over the ordeal, says political opponents are simply targeting her.

“This incident is being weaponized to discredit and suppress the work of everyone committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion,” she said in a statement, the Toronto Sun reported.

“While the coverage by right-wing media of this controversy is disappointing and led to our organization and team members receiving threats and vitriol online, we will not be deterred from our work in building a better society for everyone,” the embattled woman added.

The Toronto school board and Education Ministry have announced an investigation into the development training – which included concepts from the controversial critical race theory — after the emotional distress that Bilkszto allegedly suffered before he took his life.

“KOJO Institute welcomes Education Minister Stephen Lecce’s review of this matter and will cooperate fully with Ministry officials,” Ojo-Thompson said in her statement.

“We believe the Ministry of Education is best positioned to investigate this matter to get to the bottom of what transpired at the Toronto District School Board after our workshop concluded over two years ago,” she said.

Bilkszto’s lawyer, Lisa Bildy, noted that a Workplace Safety and Insurance Board had ruled her client was in fact the subject of workplace bullying in the aftermath of the anti-racism training that focused on the struggles of black people.

After Bilkszto had called out the instructor about her assertion, Ojo-Thompson allegedly lashed out at him during the session for appearing to undermine a black woman.

“We are here to talk about anti-Black racism, but you in your whiteness think that you can tell me what’s really going on for Black people” she said, according to the lawsuit filed against the district by the Foundation Against Intolerance and Racism, of which Bilkskto was a member.

She later allegedly brought up the argument again, describing it to Bilkszto and his colleagues as a “real-life” example of someone supporting white supremacy.

Bilkszto, who claimed school officials failed to look into Ojo-Thompson’s alleged misconduct and appeared to side with her, later received the favorable ruling by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board that stated her conduct  “was abusive, egregious and vexatious, and rises to the level of workplace harassment and bullying.”

But the principal said his reputation was ruined by Ojo-Thompson and the school board’s actions.

The district refused to reinstate Bilkszto’s contract after a six-week medial leave — which he claimed was a result of either his damaged reputation or as revenge for having the WSIB investigate the matter.

“Our hearts go out to Richard’s family and loved ones,” schools rep Ryan Bird later said in a statement.

“He was a strong advocate for students — particularly those in adult and alternative education — and worked tirelessly to create an environment that fostered student success for students of all ages,” it added.

The Toronto district will be using an outside agency, King International Advisory Group, to conduct its investigation.

“Our intention is for this investigation to be conducted in a professional, sensitive and respectful manner,” it said, Fox News Digital reported.

The KOJO Institute, which faced its own lawsuit from the district for alleged negligence and for breaching contract, said in a statement that “the death of Richard Bilkszto is a tragedy and all of us at KOJO Institute offer our condolences to his loved ones.”