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Wednesday, March 27, 2024 | Back issues
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Former Texas Teacher Sues New Black Panthers

HOUSTON (CN) - A teacher was forced to resign after the New Black Panther Nation held a news conference at her school and defamed her as a racist who called "black people dumb ass" for voting for President Barack Obama, she claims in court.

Angela Box sued the New Black Panther Nation, the New Black Muslim Movement Inc. and their leader Quanell X Abdul Farrakhan, aka Quanell X, on Jan. 7 in Harris County Court.

Box regularly appears on a YouTube political commentary show called "Tommy's Garage," in which she has disparaged Muslims with offensive terms such as "bacon haters," and worse.

Box's involvement with the show is not mentioned in her lawsuit.

In it, Box claims a Houston radio producer texted her on Nov. 14, 2014 and told her to check her email immediately.

The producer had emailed Box a news release that Quanell X sent to Houston media, according to the lawsuit.

Box claims the news release falsely stated she had "called President Obama 'a f*cking nigger and black people dumb ass for voting for him.'"

The press release also stated that Quanell X would hold a news conference at Box's workplace, Ray Daily Elementary School in Houston, to demand she be removed from her job.

Box claims the news conference ruined her teaching career.

"Defendants' malicious and defamatory statements and the press conference at plaintiff's school - in front of her third-grade students - created a hostile work environment and left plaintiff no choice but to end her employment as a teacher," the complaint states.

"Plaintiff will likely never be able to find employment as an educator again."

Box seeks punitive damages for defamation and infliction of emotional distress.

She is represented by John Paul Hopkins of Conroe, Texas.

Quanell X did not respond to a phone message seeking comment.

New Black Muslim Movement members Tabitha Stewart and Ron Wilson are also named as defendants.

Follow @cam_langford
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