Yesterday, Vancouver Public Schools in Washington state were forced to put an elementary school, a middle school, and a high school on lockdown, due to loud and harassing by demonstrations organized by the far-right groups Patriot Prayer and Proud Boys. The demonstrations began Thursday, and escalated yesterday when protesters attempted to enter one school’s grounds and disrupt its operations.
In “3 Vancouver schools placed on lockdown after Proud Boys try to enter during masks protest”, OPB’s Jonathan Levinson and Troy Brynelson report that members of the Proud Boys attempted to escort a non-mask-wearing student into the school yesterday, but were eventually rebuffed by school security. The mother of the student in question says her daughter cannot wear a mask. Students at VPS can qualify for a medical or disability mask accommodation with appropriate documentation, and also can attend fully-remote classes; apparently the student in question did not qualify and her mother did not wish her to attend remotely.
During the ruckus, teachers and faculty guarded doors at the schools while security guards addressed the Proud Boys. Students were idle and there was no instruction for more than an hour. One high-school student said it was like a school shooter drill. Several students at the high school handed out masks in protest against the disruption by right-wingers.
No arrests were made and no charges filed.
Update: an earlier version of this article mistakenly used a photo of Proud Boys member Tusitala “Tiny” Toese. My apologies.