Violence outside an elementary school: Police had to step in and break up fights that broke out during an LGBT protest in Los Angeles

Two groups of protestors stood across from each other on the street. On one side of the sidewalk across the street from Saticoy Elementary School, they chanted in unison, "Stop grooming our kids." On the other side, on the sidewalk of the school, protestors responded by booing them while holding signs that said "Hate Has No Home Here" and "I Hope You Know How Loved You Are."

In a matter of seconds, and in circumstances that are still unclear, violence broke out and police were forced to intervene to separate some of the protesters. Some videos were shared on social media showing the police stepping in to break up the fights.

The episode occurred on Friday in North Hollywood, Los Angeles. However, the tension had been escalating over the last month, when some parents created an Instagram account against the school's Gay Pride Spirit and Rainbow Day Assembly.

"Keep your kids at home & join us to protest against Pride Day assembly," reads one of the posts on the Saticoy Elementary Parents account. The same account opposed the event organized for children because it would show educational material introducing families with "two mommies and two daddies" as possible family types. The account shared a story saying:

The group also pointed out that the school did not distribute consent forms as it did previously when dealing with sex education issues. The account also shared the phone number of several of the school's administrators and invited other parents to reach out and ask questions like "What dialogue does your staff have prepared for the very curious children with questions as to what it means to have two mommies and two daddies?"

In anticipation of the escalating violence, on May 22, a trans teacher at the school reported that someone had burned a Pride flag that was displayed on campus.