Protests Against Trans Students, Equity Derail School Meeting

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — Unrest broke out during Tuesday night's Loudoun County School Board meeting. A crowd of residents who came out to protest critical race theory and the district's proposed policies on transgender students became unruly, leading to two arrests.

One person was arrested for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, while another person was cited for trespassing, the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office said.

Emotional exchanges — marked at times by name-calling and obscene gestures — were the latest in a series of tense meetings with some parents condemning the school board for its stance on transgender students, and the belief that promoting racial equity will harm some students.

Dozens of residents came to the meeting to express their displeasure with the school board's recent actions. One man said he was disappointed with the "radical racist and immoral propaganda that passes as an education in Loudoun County." The man, who identified himself as Chris Anders, said the Loudoun County School Board reminded him of "communist China."

Anders, and many other speakers, cited critical race theory as an immoral indoctrination of students.

"Critical race theory is not being taught in our schools, period," School Board Chair Brenda Sheridan said. "Loudoun County is for learners and loud voices aiming to make our schools a political battleground will not silence the work for our students."

Read more: Foes Of Critical Race Theory In Schools Hold Rally In Leesburg

Critical race theory is seen by some as a way of understanding how racism has shaped public policy, but detractors view it as a wedge that pits people of color against white people, Education Week said. The topic has gained traction in conservative political camps, with multiple state legislatures debating bills that would ban discussion of CRT in classrooms.

CRT holds that race is not a natural phenomena, but a social construct that has historically been used to exploit and oppress people of color, according to Encyclopedia Britannica.

At the meeting, many attendees held signs saying, "We the parents stand up." Others showed messages in support of Leesburg Elementary School teacher Tanner Cross.

Cross was originally suspended with pay by Loudoun County Schools after he made comments expressing his opposition toward policy 8040, which would have teachers refer to students by their preferred names and pronouns.

The school system is now involved in a lawsuit with Cross, who was granted a temporary injunction by a judge to return to his job.

Read more: Teacher Who Disputed Transgender Policy Reinstated By Court Order

"You retaliated against Tanner Cross by yanking him from his teaching job," former state senator Dick Black said at the meeting. "It's absurd and immoral for teachers to call boys girls and girls boys."

Black continued to tell board members he was "disgusted by your bigotry and your depravity," before his microphone was cut off.

After Black's comment, the board quickly voted to end the public comment section early. The meeting's attendees responded by booing, and one man could be seen showing his middle fingers to school board members.

Sheridan claimed many of the night's speakers were driven by politics, instead of a real concern for students.

Geary Higgins, the chairman of the tenth district Republican committee, sent an email to supporters on Monday inviting them to the school board meeting. "We need everyone to attend!," the email said. "Sign up to speak, come support those speaking, join in our fight to protect our children."

"These politically motivated antics ought to end," Sheridan said in the statement. "But if they don’t, know that they won’t delay our work."

The gathering of attendees was ruled unlawful by the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office. One person was charged with disorderly conduct, while another was cited for trespassing.

At the end of the meeting, Sheridan read a prepared statement referencing the night's unrest.

"I do not believe I can let the disruption that occurred in our board room tonight go unanswered," she said. "I’m deeply concerned about the rise in hateful messages and violent threats aimed at progressive members of the school board."