A New Jersey public school allegedly required students to keep an image of Democratic Rep. Analilia Mejia on their school-issued computers as part of Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations, just two months before Election Day, according to an angry parent.
The desktop background was reportedly installed across the Glen Ridge Public School system. One parent said a Spanish teacher warned that their child could be sent to the principal if the image was changed.
“I was outraged,” the parent, who requested anonymity over concerns about retaliation, told The Post. “We’re in the school system because we’re in the number one public school system in the state. We’re here for the education. I’m not here for political propaganda.”
“Marketing to a 13-year-old and a nine-year-old is disgusting,” the parent added.
Before being selected as Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s chosen successor for the U.S. House seat Sherrill previously held earlier this year, Mejia was a local labor leader and nonprofit director.
The wallpaper included biographical details about Mejia’s career, including legislation she introduced that would have raised the minimum wage to $25 an hour — a proposal that went nowhere.
The parent said students appeared unable to change the desktop image on their district-issued Chromebooks, even if they wanted to.
Mejia’s image began appearing on the students’ laptops Tuesday before being replaced Wednesday with a picture of “Guardians of the Galaxy” actress Zoe Saldana.
“I’m sure it’s because the parents went nuts,” the parent said of the change.
Mejia represents New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District, which includes several suburbs surrounding Newark, including Maplewood, Montclair and Belleville.
According to census data, approximately 17.5% of the district’s population is Hispanic.
Mejia is favored to defeat Republican Joe Hathaway in the Nov. 3 race, according to the Cook Political Report, which classifies the district as a “solid” Democratic seat.
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“While neither my team nor I were involved in the decision, I’m honored to be among the Latino leaders recognized during Hispanic Heritage Month,” Mejia told The Post in response to the use of her image as the Chromebook wallpaper.
“Latinos are integral to New Jersey’s culture, history, and strength, and I commend the school district for striving to represent the full diversity of our community to its diverse student body,” she added. “Happy Hispanic Heritage Month!”
The controversy over the Glen Ridge students’ Chromebooks was first publicized by the Libs of TikTok account on X.
The Post reached out to the Glen Ridge Public School system for comment.
“This photo looks like something ripped out of North Korean propaganda, with Mejia standing watch as some kind of ‘Dear Leader.’ It’s absolutely ridiculous,” Hathaway, Mejia’s opponent, told The Post.
“Imagine the outrage you’d hear from teachers and left-wing progressives if every student in Glen Ridge opened their school computer and saw a locked image of our president staring back at them,” he added. “Socialist messaging has no place being forced on our kids.”
“We need to get back to basics of reading, writing, math, and science, for our children to succeed.”
The parent raised a similar concern and questioned why the district doesn’t splash an image of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the highest-ranking Hispanic American in US history, on their desktops.
“They clearly understood that this was not the right thing to do,” he added.
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