Clash over LGBTQ+ rights lead to arrests outside Glendale Unified board meeting

Proponents and opponents of LGBTQ+ rights clashed outside a Glendale Unified School District board meeting Tuesday, leading to three arrests, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.

The school board was in the midst of declaring June as Pride Month when the fight broke out and disrupted the meeting’s public comment period, which was cut short. Later that evening, the board unanimously approved the action item.

In response to the protests, police installed a wire barrier near the building’s entrance. Law enforcement declared an unlawful assembly soon after the fight broke out, and police said only a small number of protesters engaged in “behavior deemed unsafe.”

After arrests were made — on charges including unlawful use of pepper spray and obstructing officers — police said “additional attempts to deescalate the crowd failed.” At about 6 p.m., more police were called to the scene, and the crowd was ordered to disperse.

Earlier Tuesday, the building’s exterior was home to hundreds of protesters responding to the action item. Monday, the district released a statement and FAQ in response to anti-LGBTQ activists.

“In Glendale Unified, we are committed to providing a safe, inclusive environment where every child can learn and thrive,” the statement said.