NY Post: MS Society fires a 90 year old
The National Multiple Sclerosis reverses it’s decision and apologizes. That’s not enough.
Perhaps you’ve seen this story. Sixty years ago, Fran Itkoff started the Long Beach Self-Help Group to assist families dealing with multiple sclerosis. Her group became affiliated with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Fran remained an active volunteer, and being 90 years old, didn’t understand a directive about pronoun usage. She asked for clarification.
As we discussed earlier during our phone conversation, after a thorough review of our guidelines and standards, it has come to our attention that there has been a failure to abide by our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion guidelines during your time as a volunteer. Unfortunately, based on the situation, we have made the difficult decision to have you step down from your volunteer position, effective immediately.
Fran talked to Libs of TikTok to call attention to the purge at the National MS Society. The blow-back from the purge motivated the National MS Society to reverse it’s decision and issue an apology.
While we acted at the time with the best intentions, we did not have clear protocols in place.
This isn’t true. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion guidelines are a malignant Marxist ideology intended to purge an organization of nonbelievers. No good intent is involved.
The National MS Society is not discarding the DEI guidelines or reevaluating the guidelines. Members of the organization will continue to be forced to comply with Marxist principles.
Kali Kumor, a Community Engagement manager with the organization responsible for the volunteers, sent the letter to Fran. Kumor made the decision to prioritize ideology over the needs of people suffering from multiple sclerosis. She decided that an energetic and productive 90 year-old woman has no place in the organization. Kali Kumor will not be fired or reprimanded.
The National MS Society regrets that Fran’s story had legs and that it exposes the mean-spirited nature of the organization. Mostly, they regret that their reputation has taken a big hit, many people now have a poor opinion of them and that donations will suffer.
Nobody increased donations to the National MS Society because the DEI guidelines were adopted, and nobody had a better opinion of them when they fired an old lady. Those actions were taken because the organization has malevolent leadership. Reversing the decision and issuing an apology statement doesn’t change that fact.
Anyone supporting the multiple sclerosis cause would be better off donating to Fran’s Long Beach Self-Help group or local organization.