Antifa and far-left protesters physically fought with conservative parents and community members outside of a school board meeting in Glendale, California, resulting in three arrests.
The Glendale Unified School District (GUSD) school board held a meeting Tuesday evening to discuss, among other things, LGBTQ+ curriculum. The curriculum in question has been in place since 2019, but is offered for reconsideration annually.
Critics of the curriculum, including a large number of parents from the traditionally conservative Armenian and Hispanic communities, planned to attend the meeting to voice their opposition. On social media Saturday, the Southern California chapter of Antifa called for fellow
activists to gather at the GUSD school board meeting in opposition to the conservative protesters, calling them “anti-LGBTQIA+ hate groups.”
According to a Glendale Police Department (GPD) news release, the protesting was mostly peaceful, until a small group of people broke out in a fight. Videos circulating on social media show masked protestors with pink bandanas and progressive flags physically fighting with
Armenian and Hispanic parents, some of whom were wearing shirts saying “Leave our kids alone.”
Breaking: Armenian-American men fight against #Antifa & far-left protesters outside the Glendale (CA) school board meeting. Immigrant families have been furious that elementary schools are doing pride events. Antifa have gathered to oppose the parents. pic.twitter.com/1LCTeCgc32
— Andy Ngô 🏳️🌈 (@MrAndyNgo) June 7, 2023
Related: LA Schools Push LGBTQ Bingo, Class Parades, and 'Ally Pledge Cards' For 'Pride' Month
Law enforcement gave a dispersal order after 6:15 p.m., as the protest had “exceeded the bounds of peaceful assembly” and attempts to subdue the crowd were unsuccessful. GPD officers made three arrests for various charges, including “unlawful use of pepper spray and willfully obstructing officers in the course of their duties.” The identities of the arrested individuals have not been released.
Part of the motivation for the conservative protesters at the school board meeting was the recent implementation of LGBTQ+ “Pride” celebrations at schools during school. Dozens of parents pulled their students from classrooms in protest, with one elementary school reportedly having only 40 percent attendance on its “Pride Day” June 2. To prevent and correct what it called “intentional and harmful disinformation,” the school district released a curriculum fact sheet and FAQ statement online about its curriculum and policies.
Advocates for the curriculum say it is important to have LGBTQ+ representation for children, while opponents claim that some of the materials are sexually explicit and the topics don’t need to be introduced to children.
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Absolutely ridiculous violation of the 1st amendment by the arresting officers here, Atkins should sue and take them for everything they’ve got.
— MRCTV (@mrctv) June 7, 2023
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