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Portland, Oregon, mother Allison Roberts told Digital on Tuesday that she hopes her fight with her children’s elementary school over a trans-inclusive flag will inspire others to speak out for their beliefs.
“I think the increased political presence with the progressive flag was a bit much,” Roberts said of her situation. “And I think that was the final straw that got me to open my eyes and see that, yes, the school had become a political apparatus. It wasn’t my problem with the pride flag, per se, it is what I think is using it as a political apparatus and indoctrination for the kids.”
According to the Liberty Justice Center, which filed the lawsuit on behalf of Roberts last week, she initially expressed concern last year over Meriwether Lewis Elementary School’s decision to repaint its traditional rainbow pride flag with an “Intersex-Inclusive Progress” variant, as well as an “identity flower” assignment given to her 11-year-old child that asked students to identify and discuss their gender identity with classmates and teachers.
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Portland mother Allison Roberts took issue with her children’s school displaying an Intersex-inclusive Pride Progress flag. (Mike Kemp/In Pictures via Getty Images)
Roberts described herself as a liberal Democrat but felt the new flag was a step too far, particularly given her religious beliefs, and warned that situations like hers are likely happening in other schools.
“I never would have thought it would have happened in Portland, arguably one of the most, at least, vocally liberal cities out there. I really didn’t think it could happen here,” Roberts said. “So if it can happen here, I have no doubt that it can happen anywhere, and again, it’s … it’s curriculum that is being stealthily placed into and around other curriculum. So I do firmly believe that it’s happening everywhere.”
After receiving what she described as an unsatisfactory response from the school, Roberts wrote an open letter to the community against the school’s policies, which she distributed on a public sidewalk outside school property.
Roberts was later issued a one-year trespass order after a heated exchange with another parent, barring her from attending school events, including her child’s graduation ceremony. When she reached out to the school for clarification, Roberts was reportedly told that it was a result of engaging in “harassment, intimidation, and threatening behavior” as part of a pattern of “animus and harassment targeting vulnerable members of [the] community.”
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Roberts received a trespass order against her by her children’s school after speaking out against the flag and a gender identity assignment. (iStock)
The Liberty Justice Center argued that the school violated Roberts’ First and Fourteenth Amendment rights by stifling and retaliating against her speech criticizing the school’s policies. Timothy R. Snowball, senior counsel at the Liberty Justice Center, also told Digital that the school’s actions were particularly problematic given Roberts was criticizing the school outside school property.
“Not only is that problematic for the First Amendment, but it really undermines our entire democratic system of government,” Snowball said. “We have something called the marketplace of ideas in which each citizen is supposed to be able to participate. And hopefully, through that conversation, you arrive at the best policy prescriptions for everyone.”
“And so, shutting somebody down because you don’t like what they’re saying, really is problematic for that,” he continued. “There’s no offense exception to the First Amendment. There’s no hate speech exception to the First Amendment. These are made-up words, made-up things, and so really what they are doing here is insidious, I think, on several different grounds.”
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Roberts encouraged other parents to get involved with their children’s schools while speaking to Digital. (John McDonnell/For The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Portland Public Schools declined to comment to Digital about the ongoing case.
In the meantime, Roberts encouraged other parents to get involved with their children’s schools and take action when necessary.
“Don’t be afraid to speak up. Be loud,” she said. “I think the time for hoping that the common sense and the adults will enter the conversation and make things right is kind of over. And I think it is time for us to be vocal and to get involved.”
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“And I would say to people, get involved in your school, your kid’s school,” Roberts added. “Go take a tour when it starts up this year. That’s all I’d say.”
