For the second time in a week, a protest over LGBTQ education in schools devolved into violence in L.A.'s San Fernando Valley.
Three people were arrested Tuesday during a protest outside Glendale Unified School District headquarters where trustees were voting on a resolution declaring June as Pride Month. Shocking video shows an all-out brawl between protesters and counter-protesters while police push back members of the crowd.
The meeting was temporarily disrupted by the chaos. A shelter-in-place order was issued, as Glendale police declared an unlawful assembly. Ultimately, the board voted to recognize Pride Month.
“Recently, intentional and harmful disinformation has been circulating about what is being taught in our district and the ways we serve our students,” the Glendale Unified School District said in a statement. “This includes disinformation about LGBTQIA+ curriculum, sex education, and supporting transgender and gender nonconforming youth.”
The City of Glendale offered this statement:
“Recent events involving conflicting viewpoints have disrupted our community’s peace. We are committed to respecting peoples’ perspectives and diversity, as well as preventing present and future injustices.
“Democracy is the foundation of this institution; therefore, our main priority is upholding public safety and providing the opportunity for considerate expression and dialogue. This means, behavior deemed unsafe and a risk to public safety will not be tolerated.”
Violent protests are becoming all too common in this polarized political environment. Just four days before the Glendale protest, violence erupted at a demonstration over an LGBTQ school assembly in North Hollywood.