Arizona school board member faces calls to resign after Nazi salute

DEER VALLEY, Ariz. - Protestors rallied for the resignation of a Deer Valley Unified School District board member who flashed a Nazi salute and said "heil" at a public board meeting back in May. 

The backstory:

The gesture happened at the end of the meeting back in May when the scheduled time boiled over, after someone asked, "Is there a motion to adjourn or are we just going to do this for a while."

Fisher later went on Facebook Live and reenacted the salute, saying she was mocking Board President Paul Carver, who acts like a dictator. "All I could think of tonight was Hitler, so I said ‘Heil’ or whatever," Fisher said during the stream. "This nonsense that a board can’t talk to even schedule a meeting which is what he said in there at the board meeting, that is stupid."

It stemmed from an issue she had with scheduling an executive session on district boundaries, but some educators in the district want Fisher to resign.

What we know:

Roughly 40 protestors rallied outside the board meeting on June 9, saying they want the board to vote to remove Fisher from office. They held signs saying "Antisemitism has no place here," and "Everyone is welcome here." They are demanding Fisher step down, saying she longer represents the values of the district.

"Our kids deserve better. Our community deserves better," Canyon Springs STEM Academy Band Teacher Chris Serbic said. 

Carver told FOX 10 that Fisher's behavior is completely unacceptable. The district is also distancing itself from Fisher's salute and comments, while the board president of the Deer Valley Education Association says this should disqualify her from office.

"I want people that represent me, represent my family, represent my community, and this isn’t it," said Craig Beckham, a Jewish parent. "It’s incredibly offensive to my family and our community."

Fisher told FOX 10 she understands the symbol is extremely offensive, but does not support the Nazi party. 

What they're saying:

"If one of my students issued an apology where they doubled down on their insult and defended themselves, I’d ask them to do better. I’d ask them to try again, and I don’t think our standards should be lower for our school board," Serbic said. "We’re gonna see more division within the district. She’s done it before and she’ll do it again."

"You’re a true racist at heart lashing out," said Birdie Goldsmith, who attended the rally. "We have to be able to tame it down, lower the rhetoric think before you open your mouth, and it starts at the top with our leaders."

The school district responded to the incident when it happened, saying in part, "The District does not condone, support, or endorse gestures or language associated with hate, discrimination, intimidation, or violence in any form…Her views and actions do not reflect and should not be attributed to other Board members, staff, other members of the school community or the District."

Dig deeper:

The board is not expected to vote on anything related to Fisher's salute at the meeting on June 9. Fisher did not respond to FOX 10's request for an interview.