More than 100 people gathered at the Loudoun County Public Schools Administration Building on Tuesday afternoon for a rally in support of public education.

According to rally organizer Amanda Golino, a Loudoun4All volunteer, the event was organized to show support for teachers as well as public education.

“I think our turnout was great. We have a wide variety of delegates and speakers here tonight. Our true mission was to support public education and support teachers.” Because we know they’re under attack, they’re against book bans, and they’re supporting diversity, equity and inclusion,” Golino said.

Speakers include Loudoun Education Association President Sandy Sullivan, Disability Advocate Jennifer Lytton Tid, Teacher Alex Bennett, Equality Loudoun Education Director Jennifer Boudry, John Champe High School’s Gender, Sexuality, Alliance They included the club’s president, Sire Han Min Morris, and others.

Morris, a transgender student, spoke about her experience attending school every day. She said she was speaking out because she feared for her rights as a human being.

“In this day and age, especially in a country where freedom and rights are everything, I go to school worried that one day I will have to say goodbye to one of the teachers who helped me. “The fact that you have to. Life without knowing. Every time you look in the mirror and hate what’s staring at you, you may have to hear the name reflected,” Morris said.

She emphasized that it’s scary for people who don’t know what it’s like.

“That’s it. The people writing these guidelines don’t understand what it’s like. They’re not transgender, so they never have and never will.” But that doesn’t mean they’re not irresponsible,” Morris said.

During the rally, school critic Brian Davison appeared with a sign reading “Groomers Love LCPS” and confronted the demonstrators, temporarily confusing the speakers.

The crowd drew closer to each other and began shouting, “Choose love, not hate.” He continued walking around and some demonstrators said he pushed them.

During a confrontation with one protester, the protester grabbed and ripped up Davison’s sign.

“A good portion of the people there tried to block me, yell at me, they said I was crazy and that they had PTSD because they knew my previous service. They suggested I was abused on a Navy submarine…the full range of insults you would normally expect,” he said.

Golino said they maintain a positive focus and try to protect people in marginalized communities and make them feel protected and supported.

“There is a lot of negativity right now, but a large part of our community really stands by our public education and our teachers. When public education is under attack, it hurts us all. ” said Golino.

This article was updated on September 27th at 9:35 PM with a comment from Brian Davison.

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