3 arrested as large fight breaks out while California school board discusses Pride Month: Video
At least three people were arrested Tuesday after several hundred protesters gathered outside a California school board meeting discussing a resolution to recognize June as Pride Month, authorities said.
The Glendale Police Department responded to the protest at the Glendale Unified School District headquarter in Glendale, California, to “ensure public safety and facilitate peaceful demonstrations,” the police department said in a news release.
“Several hundred protesters gathered, many waving the American flags and LGBTQ+ Pride flags,” police said in the release.
GUSD Superintendent Dr. Vivian Ekchian recommended the Board of Education to adopt a resolution at Tuesday's meeting to designate June 2023 as LGBTQ+ Pride Month.
Police said some protesters included parents who opposed the GUSD recommendation and others who supported it.
“Both sides took to social media to rally their supporters to convene at GUSD headquarters ahead of the last board meeting of the school year,” police said.
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Video shows fight break out, protestors throwing punches
While most protesters were peaceful, police said a small group of individuals engaged in “behavior deemed unsafe and a risk to public safety.”
Police said they attempted to de-escalate the situation, and arrested at least three individuals who were using pepper spray and obstructing officers.
Anti-LGBT protestors attack Pro-LGBT demonstrators outside of a Glendale, CA schoolboard meeting.
— Brennan Murphy (@brenonade) June 7, 2023
The schoolboard is voting on recognizing June as Pride month. pic.twitter.com/T1zqZMTn7D
“After the initial arrests, additional attempts to de-escalate the crowd failed,” police said.
Police requested additional police resources and issued a dispersal order around 6 p.m. after the protest “exceeded the bounds of peaceful assembly and in adherence to our duty to protect public safety,” police said.
“We encourage continued open dialogue and constructive engagement with community members,” the police department said.
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Glendale school district issues statement on disinformation about LGBTQIA+ curriculum day before meeting
In a statement posted on Facebook Monday, the GUSD said “intentional and harmful” disinformation has been circulating about what is being taught in schools.
“This includes disinformation about LGBTQIA+ curriculum, sex education and supporting transgender and gender non-conforming youth,” the GUSD said in the statement.
Over the past two weeks, Ekchian, members of the BOE and district leaders have visited parents and guardians to clarify the disinformation, the GUSD said.
The school district posted a link to a “Correcting Disinformation” page on its website that has information about the GUSD curriculum.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Glendale school board meeting pride protest, fight caught on video