Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
School exec on leave after confronting protesters
Video captures incident outside Downingtown STEM Academy
DOWNINGTOWN >> A Downingtown high school assistant principal has been placed on leave after an alleged confrontation last Friday with two teenage anti-abortion protesters that was partially videotaped.
Zachary Ruff, the dean of academics and student life at the Downingtown STEM Academy, is on administrative leave until the conclusion of an investigation, district officials said on Thursday. The matter reportedly involves a disagreement about abortions and religion during a protest.
The Downingtown Area School District posted a statement on the district website without naming the employee. District offi-
cials said it was not until Wednesday evening that they “became aware of a confrontation that took place on a sidewalk outside the STEM Academy at the end of the school day on April 21, 2017 involving one of our staff members and two protesters. The argument was captured on film. We have begun a thorough investigation into this unfortunate situation and have placed the staff member on administrative leave. We do not condone or support the conduct expressed in the video and are deeply disappointed that this incident occurred. His conduct does not represent the values of the school district or the respect we expect our employees to show for the civil rights of others. This has now become a personnel matter and we must follow the policies and procedures that we have in place concerning staff issues. We truly apologize to all for the actions of this employee.”
The district did not have additional comments. Ruff was not immediately available for comment.
The video, which has more than 12,000 views, begins with Ruff approaching Conner Haines and asking him to keep walking. They both agreed it was a public sidewalk, and Ruff added that it was school property.
Haines video recorded the interaction which was posted online by “Abolish Human Abortion.” That organization told the Daily Local News that it does not send staff members or volunteers out, and that it is “merely a call” and a symbol representing an ideology dubbed abolitionism.
“There are local abolitionist societies all across the nation and some even in other countries which consist of local Christians who adopt abolitionism and put it into practice in their local area,” said the group’s Toby Harmon.
The five-minute video also notes that STEM Academy is nationally ranked and it includes contact information for Ruff. It was not immediately known how long Haines and Ruff interacted. The following report is based on that video.
Haines said he was there to talk about the “holocaust happening in America,” but he did not elaborate in the recorded conversation, other than to say “these people are being murdered.” Ruff denied that there is a holocaust in America and told Haines to go into the inner city and talk to underprivileged people living in poverty.
Haines repeatedly said, “Sir, these are image bearers of God.” Ruff responded, “You can go to hell, where they are.”
Haines continued and alleged that Ruff hid the matter from the teenage students. Ruff told Haines that he was “protecting his students.” Ruff alleged that Haines was “harassing” his school children.
At one point, Haines told Ruff that he “need to turn to Jesus Christ.” Ruff laughed and said, “I’m as gay as the day is long, and twice as sunny. I don’t give a [expletive] what you think Jesus tells me, and what I should and should not be doing.”
The Liberator reported that Haines, 16, and his sister, Lauren, 19, brought three signs that said, “We are attempting to bring your apathy into conflict with their death” and “We are ambassadors of Jesus Christ, pleading from God, a message of reconciliation.”
Haines said abortions are murders that are an “injustice that is happening in society.” Ruff repeatedly told Haines to leave, to stop talking to the students, harassing them and to “shut your mouth.”
Haines then shouted to students driving from the school parking lot to Manor Road about Jesus dying for their sins and about the injustice of abortion.
“Do not talk to my students,” Ruff said. “You do not have permission to speak and engage. You are harassing public students. I will call the police if you do not shut up.”
It was not immediately known if the Downingtown police were called to the school. The two argued again if that location was acceptable for a public protest.
Haines then shouted to students that “Jesus Christ can set you free from your sins.” Ruff turned to Haines and said, “Public school, we don’t believe in that here.”
Ruff also taught at Downingtown East High School for 10 years.
“We do not condone or support the conduct expressed in the video and are deeply disappointed that this incident occurred.” — Downingtown Area School District statement