A school board meeting in California erupted into chaos on Tuesday as protesters began fighting in the streets during a debate over whether to recognize Pride month.
Glendale Unified School District was supposed to hold a vote this year on whether to officially mark Pride – as they have done for the past four years.
The curriculum on gender and sexual identity was not on the agenda of the meeting. Still, the meeting was marred in the evening by brutal scenes outside.
The protests had been peaceful during the day, but clashes broke out between about 200 demonstrators and counter-demonstrators around 6:00 pm.
School officials said many of the protesters had no students in the district.
Police in Glendale, California are pictured Tuesday separating protesters angry over a plan to recognize Pride Month, and counter-protesters who are in favor of the move
About 50 officers were deployed to the school board meeting in Glendale on Tuesday
Rival groups were seen throwing punches and police drew their batons to keep them apart
The police deployed about 50 officers, CBS news reported. The officers used their batons to disperse the crowd, who were beating.
They ordered the protesters to disperse and threatened to use force to disperse the crowd.
Their efforts failed, leading officers to arrest at least three people on charges of use of pepper spray and obstruction.
Many of those present thought that the board was discussing the curriculum, which was not the case.
“Introducing K-6 curricula on gender ideology, that’s what we’re against,” said Any Torosyan, a parent from Glendale.
told Torosyan KTLA 5 that she believes money should be spent on improving students’ test scores.
Another protester, Philip George, also believed the meeting was about curriculum. “We were talking about kids,” he told KTLA.
They are not ready for such choices. It confuses them and ultimately these are things for parents to decide.”
Activists came to the rally on Tuesday to express their feelings
Protesters on both sides were largely peaceful until about 6 p.m
Those who campaigned against recognizing Pride month wore t-shirts that read ‘Leave Our Kids Alone’
Those protesting the Pride statement wore t-shirts that read, “Leave Our Kids Alone.”
Proponents shouted, “Racists, sexists, anti-gay. Christian fascists are leaving.’
Vivian Vekchian, the superintendent of the school district, argued that representation in schools was important.
“Our primary focus in our school district is being inclusive,” she said.
‘Every student matters, every family member matters. We follow state laws and the guidelines of the California Department of Education.”
The fighting prompted police to ask the school board to move inside during recess while officers deal with the chaos.
Nayiri Nahabedian, Chairman of the School Board
It is unclear whether the meeting has resumed and whether a vote has been taken.
The president of the school board, Nayiri Nahabedian, confirmed that the building was locked during the protests and no one was allowed to enter or leave the building.
Maebe Putlo, who supports the recognition of Pride Month, told KTLA that the move mattered to young children, saying she herself was confused as a child.
“They need to be taught because so many of them already know who they are by the age of three, and they need to know what options they have in life,” she said.
“To shut them down, to shut down the questions they already have in their heads.
“I wish there were books I could turn to, mentors I could turn to, or the facilities I could turn to—because I grew up feeling all alone.”
The protest was over by nightfall.
The same groups that fought outside GUSD headquarters protested outside a North Hollywood elementary school last week, with the rally also peaceful during the day but contentious at night.
GUSD expected Tuesday’s rally to attract protesters.
On Monday, they posted a message on Facebook saying that “deliberate and harmful misinformation is circulating about what is taught in our district and the ways we serve our students.”
The district said there had been a disinformation campaign about the LGBTQ+ curriculum, sex education and supporting transgender and gender non-conforming youth.