P.S. 122 – Mamie Fay in Astoria (Google Maps)
July 17, 2020 By Michael Dorgan
An Astoria public school teacher is under investigation after video emerged of her calling a woman an “Asian b***h” following a pro-police rally in Bayside last weekend.
The incident, which occurred outside the 111th precinct, located at 45-06 215th St. Sunday, has led to calls for her to be fired from her teaching job.
Katina Garanes, who teaches sixth grade at P.S. 122, could be heard on the video calling a counter-protester an “Asian b***h” after the pro-police rally.
Video of the confrontation was posted to social media and the incident was first reported by Patch.
Garanes, who was holding a “we support our police sign,” was walking toward her car when she got into a verbal altercation with activists from Warriors in the Garden – a group affiliated with Black Lives Matter.
She can then be heard saying, “Listen, you Asian b***h……” with the rest of the sentence being inaudible.
Garanes then walked across the street holding her sign in the air as police officers arrived on the scene. Garanes told the cops, “I’ve got little kids they need to step away, they need to step away.”
The protester, who is part of the Warriors in the Garden group, is then heard telling the cops “she called me an Asian b***h.”
The incident occurred after Black Lives Matter protesters and “Back the Blue” pro-NYPD demonstrators clashed at Crocheron Park in Bayside earlier in the day. One Black Lives Matter protester was arrested on charges of inciting a riot, attempted assault, disorderly conduct and harassment, according to QNS.
Warriors in the Garden, who were protesting with BLM, were waiting outside the precinct for the protester to be released when the verbal altercation occurred.
Katina Garanes, an educator @Ps122S with Asian students verbally attacked an Asian protestor while waiting outside a precinct. We call for her IMMEDIATE TERMINATION. Someone who is like this shouldn’t be teaching CHILDREN. Someone with so much hate in their heart. pic.twitter.com/w1nA7hUyQ8
— Warriors in The Garden (@WarriorsITG) July 13, 2020
The principal of P.S. 122 Anna Aprea confirmed on the school’s website Wednesday that the incident was under investigation but did not provide any further details on the matter.
“As a public school located in the heart of one of the most diverse communities in the world, we have an obligation to combat systemic racism,” Aprea said. “We will not tolerate a hostile environment for any of our students and we continue to support the social-emotional and wellness of everyone in our school community.”
Aprea added that she had received “many messages” from community members regarding the incident.
Some residents, parents and former students took to social media to condemn Garanes’ behavior. One former student said she made fun of Muslims in her classes.
An online petition that was launched Tuesday calling for her firing has gained more than 1,800 signatures on change.org.
Garanes could not be reached for comment.
The Department of Education said that Garanes remains on the job pending the outcome of the investigation. The DOE said that Ganares has no prior disciplinary history.
“The DOE stands against racism and our teachers and staff must foster safe and supportive learning environments,” a spokesperson for the DOE said.
“There is a process for investigations and the DOE must follow this process.”
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45 Comments
Because she was there supporting police she’s Racist. Because she’s white she’s racist. Because she’s from Astoria she’s racist. Because she’s not there for BLM she’s racist. But if she was Asian or black and called someone a white bitch it’s okay. That’s acceptable because BLM right?
She’s being accused of being racist because she insulted someone for their race . It’s really not difficult to understand . No “white bitch” is not ok and nowhere in this video is anyone called that . But thank you trying to make this about something else.
I don’t hear anything except for the Asian B—ch caring on cursing. I see her kids run to the car as the mob approaches. The dad saying “there’s kids here “ and the mom thanking the Police. Why doesn’t the video show more when the mob came to instigate ?
I see a group of protesters . Where was the mob ?
There is no protesters. There was no protest. It was a thank you NYPD rally. There is a family heading back to their car. The mob was the warriors in the garden group. Cursing F the police in front of their kids. Mom asked them to stop ! They kept cursing. That’s when momma bear came out.
Omg , no not swearing . The worlds going to end . She swore too . Sorry but no .
Mom brought her kids to a group protesting a BLM protesters who was being released from jail . She waited got them to catch up to her . She put herself right in the middle of it then cried “ no swearing around my kid” . Please .
What video did you watch ? Mom brought her kids to a “ we support NYPD “ rally. There was NO protesting . Family heading back to their car as they were approached saying “ f- the police “ continuing cursing in front of the kids after they were asked to stop. Momma bear then came out and filming started. I’m guessing you don’t have kids . If so, what would you have done ?
Yeah I have kids. I stand against racism. Do you even know her? She’s been making racist comments for years in her classes. This is the least racist thing she has done.
There was a BLM protest there the entire time. That is why the “we support NYPD” counter protest came. They were there because a BLM protester was being released. What would I have done? Said, “Kids, that how some people talk but don’t talk that wait.” .
Doesn’t anybody know who her brother in-law is?
Try to search for it online using her married name because this web page won’t let me post it. Then you will see why she’s such a hypocrite.
I don’t get where the racism is A family heading back to their car after a “thank you NYPD rally”. A group of anti-police members approach them cursing F-the police. She asked to stop cursing in front of the kids. They don’t stop and more come over. Dad puts the kids in the car and momma bear comes out. Then the filming begins. Do you have kids ? What would you have done ?
I have kids. I don’t use them as props, go to a heated counter protest, then cry “swearing!, Omg, how did this happen? My kids!!” Stop the pearl clenching. I surely wouldn’t attack someone using their race.
Do you know who her brother in-law is? She knows damn well what a racist cop looks like.
They did NOT go to a counter protest. They went to a peaceful thank PD rally. It wasn’t heated at all once it got started. Prior to the start their was troublemakers. How do I know, I was there. I’m guessing you weren’t.
Were you there after or are you just going with the negetive narrative ? I’m guessing you weren’t there.
As per her brother in law, yes I know who he is. Do you know the story behind that or are you following the media’s narrative ?
The story is he was on audio targeting black and Hispanic people . His own police officers are suing him . What is that story because the court filing look pretty bad .
Lol the media narrative . Blame the media for getting busted .The recordings don’t lie!
What made it racist was that Katina Garanes attached race to the b word. She could have just said b—h, but instead attached race in front of it, which made it racist. She saw Asian before she saw a human being, which is wrong but many people habitually do that in the US of A: race first, human being 2nd.
That’s where the problem is. Some people believe if something is not explicitly racist then it can’t be racist. Sorry, no. Kung Flu is racist. Asian b*itch is racist.
Asian lady is not racist if one was to say “The Asian lady over there is next in line”.
If I said, ” Shut-up, stupid Asian lady”…that is racist.
The bar for racial slur gets lower for some while truly destructive and hateful speech by others gets encouraged. This is social oppression that targets and destroys. With such double standards and blatant hypocrisy how can anyone not be alarmed.
The bar was too high before.
Is there some video of another teacher using hateful speech that you know of? What is the double standard? Someone has her on video losing her mind and it went viral. Now there is a formal investigation to look into the matter. There are many video of people using hateful speech that go viral.
What is the double standard?
After this incident dozens of former students came forward on social media to talk about this teacher’s pattern of racism over many years. I hope this signals a new era of exposing the old guard of white Astoria PTA types and teachers for their biases.
While we’re casting shame on others maybe you should take a good look in the mirror. I find those that find racism everywhere are usually the worst offenders. As for some children throwing around accusations let’s remember the times we are living in. Times where emotions rule and facts are secondary. Where gotcha tactics and partial truths are enough to sway some people. Yes this women used some offensive language in the heat of the moment and when provoked but before we proceed with our modern day ‘Salem Witch Trails’ lets take a step back. Look at your post… ‘Old Guard White Astorians’…are you kiddin? Do you see the irony?
The ‘worst offenders’ you mention must be practicing ‘reverse racism’, amiright?
..implies that racism only works in one direction and that some groups cannot be racist. There is no ‘reverse racism’ just racism. To think otherwise is…. wait for it… racist.
The times we are living in? I don’t know what you mean. She’s been accused of this behavior for years!
Well said
Katina Garanes is a great teacher and a gift to the public system education.
Is impossible that she can by accused for a racial incident.
She was actually accused so it couldn’t really be impossible.
Yep, the left has killed free speech in America. You can only say things that are “approved.” On the flip-side, why are ‘anti-American’ statements encouraged and tolerated by the left? So, an anti-American statement doesn’t have any bearing on your ethical caliber in your profession but an ‘anti-Asian’ statement brings calls for your career to be terminated? Dangerous times indeed.
I do not know what other teacher you are talking about.
But, using someone’s race as an insult when you are a teacher doesn’t need to be tolerated. Maybe she can explain this to all the Asian kids she teaches.
That is not what free speech means.
No one denied her free speech. Protecting free speech does not mean your job is protected. It means the government will not infringe on your right to free speech. But, that does not mean you can not lose your job for what you say.
Is there some other public school teacher with a minority student body acting like this on that video ? I’m also not hearing any anti -American statements in this video .
Do you wish they phrased their objections in a way that didn’t hurt your feelings?
But your feelings are always hurt.
There are 2 sides to a story!!
Mrs Garages and her family simply walking to there car after the protest. The BLM protesters were across the street at the precinct. The BLM protesters saw the family across the street with their signs and from across the street the group went towards the family shouting and using profanity. One person from the group was filming while the rest were harassing the family with verbal insults and profanity in front of their children. It was the BLM group who instigated and filmed this whole incident. Mrs Garages should be supported not vilified.
She used someone’s race as a insult and this isn’t the first time.
You should look into her history. She’s Islamophobic and a racist. This time it was finally recorded. She should be GONE!
Can’t help but wonder
I WONDER What was said to provoke her?
I WONDER how students suddenly express feeling ridiculed.
This story has more wholes then Swiss cheese!!!
They were cursing in front of her kids. F- the police. Then continued to curse.
And yet she cursed too so I’m not sure what her argument is . If she doesn’t want her kids to hear cursing then don’t take them to a protest . My god…
It wasn’t a protest ! It was a “ thank you NYPD “ rally. Very kid friendly, very peaceful, and much fun marching. Until they were heading back to their car.
Omg, a rally then!! Geez, talk about focusing on the wrong part.
Ok got it. Racist swearing is ok when someone swears around your kids. Great argument. lol
Great conflict resolution skills for parent and a teacher . #sarcasm
Lol . The horror .
This might be controversial but Asian isn’t a slur. When being attacked which is what these protestors do people will use excited language. What we have here is one half of an argument. Without the other half and context this is meaningless. Don’t support cancel culture. It’s politics and bullying, sorry.
I didn’t see her attacked at all honestly. She looks like an equal participant. I also agree we should not “destroy” her or anyone because of something like this.
Asian isn’t a slur, correct. Using someone’s race as an insult is. Using someone’s race to identify someone is not.
There were a few Asian people that spoke on the District 30 school meeting and they all said this was racist to them.