Students in Loudoun County, Virginia, walked out of school on Tuesday to protest how the public school system handled multiple recent sexual assaults accusations in support of the accusers.
Crowds of students gathered outside Stone Bridge High School, Loudoun County High School, Briar Woods High School, Broad Run High School, and Lightridge High School. Video of the walkouts was posted on social media.
On Monday, a Virginia court found there were “facts sufficient” to believe a teen boy sexually assaulted a girl in the girls’ bathroom at Stone Bridge High School in May. He reportedly identifies as “gender fluid” and is said to have been wearing a skirt at the time of the assault. A sentencing hearing will be held likely in the next several weeks.
Despite the seriousness of the incident, the boy was transferred to Broad Run High School, another Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) school, where he allegedly committed another assault. He is charged with inappropriately touching a student there.
Scott Smith, the father of the girl in the first assault, said he plans to sue the school system over the incident. Smith was arrested at a Loudoun County school board meeting in June. During the chaos, his wife shouted, “My child was raped at school, and this is what happens!” Footage of that incident was splashed across news reports and social media, and Smith was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.
Meanwhile, Loudoun County Public Schools was debuting a new progressive transgender policy.
Loudoun County students staging a walkout from Broad Run High School in response to a sexual assault inside of Stone Bridge HS where the attacker was then moved to Broad Run and is charged with inappropriately touching another student. pic.twitter.com/IbkPXYN4do
— Drew Wilder (@DrewWilderTV) October 26, 2021
HAPPENING: Students at Loudoun County’s Broad Run High School stage a walk-out, chanting “Loudoun County protects rapists.”
— Election Wizard (@ElectionWiz) October 26, 2021
“We are relieved that justice was served today for the Smith’s daughter. This horrible incident has deeply affected the Smith family, and they are grateful for today’s outcome,” Smith’s lawyers said after the judge’s decision Monday.
The Daily Wire broke the story of the two accusations at Loudoun County schools last month.
Since the story broke, Loudoun County Public Schools Superintendent Scott Ziegler has been criticized for denying that there were any recorded sexual assaults in bathrooms at Loudoun County public schools.
The principal of Loudoun County High School warned that any students protesting would be penalized.
“Students who choose to participate will not be penalized for their participation; however, we do ask that students who participate do so peacefully, without signage, and in accordance with the Students Rights and Responsibilities we all reviewed and signed at the beginning of the year,” Principal Michelle Luttrell said.
“The top priority of Loudoun County Public Schools is the safety and security of students and staff. Keeping this in mind, Loudoun County High School will provide a designated, safe space for students to exercise their freedom of expression,” she added.
Earlier this month, the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Department confirmed that a sexual assault occurred in a bathroom at Stone Bridge High School on May 28. On Wednesday, the department said it arrested a 15-year-old boy in connection with the incident.