The latest school board meeting in northern Virginia’s Loudoun County showcased heightened tensions as parents fought to have a say in local school policies. A total of 259 people signed up to speak at the June 22 meeting, and hundreds rallied for hours outside the school administration building in Ashburn.
About 1 1/2 hours into the meeting, the school board ended the public comment, after the audience cheered on a speaker. The board members then left the room as the audience chanted “shame on you.” Some audience members stayed and made spontaneous speeches while standing at their seats. The superintendent of Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) declared the audience to be engaged in an unlawful assembly and advised those that remained that they could be charged with trespassing. Several refused to leave.
