LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The Little Rock teachers union has come out against public statements from Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and executive orders she signed after taking office.

The Little Rock Education Association issued a statement Thursday saying its members were offended by recent statements by the governor.

“Governor Sanders implies educators ‘indoctrinate students,’” the statement said. “This claim is unjustified and panders to the fears of Arkansans who are unaware of the curriculum taught in Arkansas’ schools.”

The group continued that critical race theory does not conflict with the principle of equal protection under the law, which was a claim Sanders made in her Jan. 10 executive order.

That order, titled “Executive Order to Prohibit Indoctrination and Critical Race Theory in Schools” was signed within hours of Sanders taking the oath of office on Jan. 10.

The association pointed out that “CRT is not explicitly taught in Arkansas schools and an executive order forbidding its teaching is not only unnecessary but dangerous.”

The association added that it and its members stand for the “freedom and the autonomy” of educators, continuing in its release that it stands with LGBTQIA+ staff and students.

“Senate Bill 43 and other bills that negatively target the LGBTQIA+ community are disingenuous, performative, and will cause harm to students,” the release said, pointing out a higher suicide rate for LGBTQIA+ youth.

The group said that government should support the safety of students as opposed to proposing legislation to marginalize them.

“If ALL students are not safe, then NO students are safe,” the statement concluded.

KARK 4 News / FOX16 News reached out to the governor’s and secretary of education’s offices for comment on this story but did not receive a reply.