Staff Reports
Downtown Los Angeles became the battleground for dueling protests on Tuesday as parental rights supporters clashed with LGBTQ advocates. The tension between the two groups escalated to the point where the LAPD had to intervene and make arrests.
The parental rights activists, donning T-shirts that read “Leave Our Kids Alone,” voiced their opposition to what they perceived as the government’s interference in promoting LGBTQ ideology in schools. They expressed concerns about their children being “indoctrinated,” “sexualized,” and “groomed” by the education system. Specifically, they took issue with California Governor Gavin Newsom’s support for legislation that mandates the teaching of LGBT topics in schools and protects children’s right to choose their sexual identities. These parents argued that it should be their prerogative, as Christians, to teach their children about God and morality, not the schools’.
#HAPPENINGNOW Los Angeles, CA –
Parents are now marching on the streets and headed from City Hall to LAUSD HQ where the board is currently meeting.
LARGE police presence. pic.twitter.com/qBAdNlwFKR
— Anthony Cabassa (@AnthonyCabassa_) August 22, 2023
Governor Newsom’s attempts to intimidate the Chino Valley Unified School District into reversing its policy requiring parental notification regarding gender identity changes only added fuel to the fire. The Glendale protests turned violent when parents objected to pride events organized by the local school board and were met with counter-protesters from Antifa.
Videos from the protests showed a chaotic scene, prompting the LAPD to declare it an unlawful assembly and disperse the crowds. John, one of the protesters, lamented the introduction of LGBTQ topics to kindergarteners, arguing that it is premature to expose young children to such concepts. He believes that children should be allowed to make their own decisions about their identities when they are older.
In response to the protests, the Los Angeles Unified School District released a statement emphasizing its commitment to creating an inclusive environment for all students. However, many parents remain unconvinced, asserting that LGBTQ ideology and explicit material have no place in schools.
