07 June 2023 , 10:12
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A violent brawl erupted outside a school with several crowd members throwing punches over LGBTQ+ rights.
The school board meeting turned violent when pro and anti-LGBTQ+ protesters jumped on top of each other.
Police rushed to intervene at the Glendale Unified School District board meeting as the two groups clashed outside the building.
Three people were arrested during the fight and despite police efforts to defuse the situation the crowds continued to engage in a massive physical bust up.
The purpose of the school board meeting was to vote on recognising June as Pride Month, and most of the public speakers expressed support for LGBTQ+ rights.
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Due to the violent confrontation, meeting attendees were forced to take shelter while the protest was declared an unlawful assembly.
The brawl broke out while the school board was having a meeting regarding the Pride Month (@MrOlmos/Twitter)The Glendale Police Department reported that several hundred protesters were present, and a small faction engaged in unsafe behaviour.
The arrests made included charges such as unlawful use of pepper spray and obstruction of officers.
Inside the building, the live stream was interrupted, and no one was allowed to enter or exit. Planned student performances were also cancelled due to concerns for safety.
This clash reflects a larger trend of school boards grappling with demands to restrict teachings on race, gender, and LGBTQIA+ rights.
Protesters opposed to the LGBTQ+ policies were seen wearing shirts with the slogan "Leave our kids alone" and chanting the names of the five school board members.
Whereas supporters of LGBTQ+ rights chanted, "Racists, sexists, anti-gay. Christian fascists go away."
The two opposed groups of people clashed violently (@MrOlmos/Twitter)The Glendale Police Department stated that several hundred protesters from both sides were present, having been mobilised through social media prior to the board meeting, which was the final one for the school year.
At least three people were arrested for offences such as unlawful use of pepper spray and obstruction of officers' duties.
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This skirmish reflects the challenges faced by school boards nationwide as they grapple with increasing demands to restrict teachings on topics such as race, gender, and LGBTQ+ rights.
Police had to intervene to dissolve the altercation (@MrOlmos/Twitter)Just days prior, dozens of parents protested a Pride Month assembly at Saticoy Elementary School in North Hollywood.
On Monday, the Glendale Unified School District addressed the circulation of intentional and harmful disinformation about their curriculum and support for LGBTQIA+ students.
Superintendent Vivian Ekchian, along with board members and district leadership, had been meeting with parents and guardians over the past two weeks to clarify and correct this misinformation.