Vince Vaughn Headlines Rally For Opening Manhattan Beach Schools

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA — Actor Vince Vaughn, Manhattan Beach mom Tiffany Wright and "other South Bay families" are coming together to hold the "Rally for the SAFE Opening of Schools and Sports Activities" this Wednesday, Nov. 18 beginning at 4 p.m. at Polliwog Park in Manhattan Beach. The group plans to gather in front of the Manhattan Beach Historical Society Museum on Manhattan Beach Boulevard.

Participants are asked to wear a mask and bring a sign. The organizers' flyer reads, "This positive and inclusive event is an opportunity for us to come together as one to successfully advocate for our students & teachers." In smaller print, the flyer reads, "Vulnerable students, teachers, and staff should always have a choice to remain virtual." Organizers are using the hashtag #OpenOurSchools on social media.

With positive cases of COVID-19 increasing in Los Angeles County, some might question why the group would hold a rally now. At least one event organizer, adviser and speaker spoke with Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn yesterday [Monday, Nov. 16] to discuss the rally.

Said Liz Odendahl, the Supervisor’s communications director, “They had a productive meeting. The Supervisor heard their concerns and she will absolutely be bringing them to Dr. Ferrer and our experts at the Department of Public Health. She wants to work with them to get more kids back to school and playing sports. We hope, however, that the organizers decide against holding a rally this Wednesday. COVID-19 cases across LA County have spiked and public health experts are urging everyone to avoid all gatherings.”

Manhattan Beach Mayor Pro Team Suzanne Hadley, an advisor to rally organizers, said, "I believe the organizers have three audiences for the rally:

1. the county to allow faster reopenings for K-5 grades and to expand what’s allowed in youth sports;
2. MBUSD to advocate for faster returns of all students currently allowed by the county to be back on campus; and
3. parents whose children are not thriving with distance learning; these parents are feeling isolated and frustrated. Organizers want them to know the health effects of closed schools are growing, and can be just as dangerous as Covid outcomes."

She said Vaughn "would primarily like youth sports teams to be able to scrimmage with each other, not just train."

Hadley said event organizers estimate about 50-100 people will attend. "The organizers know everyone is busy and it’s hard to cut through the media clutter. By having a marquee headliner, the organizers are hoping to gain media attention, in order to take their message to MBUSD, the Board of Supervisors and to the Governor."

Wright had yet to respond to Manhattan Beach Patch's questions as of publication time nor had scheduled speaker Manhattan Beach resident Cathey Graves, who is "Mira Costa High School VP Health & Wellness," according to the rally flyer. Graves has also just been elected to the Manhattan Beach Unified School District board.. Patch did not reach out to Vaughn.

A Los Angeles Times article on Friday, Nov. 13 reported that "... the 50-year-old actor frets over keeping his two kids, who are in the second and fourth grade, from falling behind where they should be academically and socially."