Dueling protests broke out Tuesday in downtown Los Angeles Tuesday as parental rights activists took to the streets while, at the same time, a group in support of LGBTQ youth gathered in Gloria Molina Grand Park. The LAPD came out in force and tried to keep the groups separated; at least two people were taken into custody.
Passions ran high:
#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
Parents wearing T-Shirts declaring “Leave Our Kids Alone” protested the government’s increasingly aggressive role in promoting LGBTQ ideology in the classroom and objected to what was referred to as the “indoctrination,” “sexualization,” and “grooming” of children in schools:
During the rally, the parental rights protestors expressed their frustration with both the school district and California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has supported bills requiring the teaching of LGBT topics in school and protecting children’s ability to choose their sexual identities.
“I reserve the right under the First Amendment to be a Christian and to teach my kids about God and teach my kids what’s right and what’s wrong,” said Jessica Enos, who homeschools her kids. “That’s not the school’s job.”
As we’ve reported, Newsom emphasizes such teaching and has attempted—along with Attorney General Rob Bonta—to intimidate the Chino Valley Unified School District into reversing course on a proposed policy requiring parents to be informed if their child changes their gender identity. Meanwhile, protests in Glendale turned violent in June when parents objected to the local school board’s pride events but were met with Antifa counter-protesters.
Videos from the protests showed a chaotic scene:
LAPD arrests leftist counter-protesters after they were told to disperse.
A group of parents is protesting a LGBTQ+ curriculum for children and bills that strip away parental rights.
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) August 22, 2023
Leftist counter-protesters continue to clash with law enforcement in LA as a group of parents speaks out against a LGBTQ+ curriculum for minors and bills that strip away parental rights
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) August 22, 2023
The LAPD eventually called it an unlawful assembly and ordered people to disperse:
Update: The demonstration that is blocking the intersection has been declared an unlawful assembly. Media partners , please use the sidewalk. PIO is at scene for media facilitation
— LAPD PIO (@LAPDPIO) August 22, 2023
A protester named John, who did not want his last name published due to safety concerns, explained that he objected to a recent book reading at Saticoy Elementary School that mentioned same-sex parents.
“Teaching topics like this in kindergarten is wrong,” he said. “When they are in kindergarten and you start telling them stuff like that, they are going to have that idea in their brain. When they grow up they can decide, but right now they can’t decide on anything.”
LA Unified issued a statement regarding the protests:
Los Angeles Unified will never shy away from being an inclusive environment for all. Every student in the District deserves to be treated with dignity, respect and care and have their entire self celebrated and accepted.
Milquetoast statements like that will do little to reassure the many parents who feel that LGBTQ ideology and sexuality explicit material have no place in school.
