Georgia Mother Arrested Twice at Gwinnett County School Board Meetings Speaks Out

A mother who has been arrested twice at Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) School Board meetings spoke to The Georgia Star News Monday. 

“I am unhappy that our school board keeps violating constitutional rights of its constituents and that parent rights are being usurped each and every day by a power- and control-hungry Board of Education,” Karen Pirkle said. “I am devastated that my child was involved and they violently arrested me in front of her. I will continue to fight for my child no matter what. As a result of the board actions, my child will not longer attend GCPS schools, as they have now banned me from all school property which limits this parent’s right to drop off and pick up my child. I will continue to fight for my child and her rights.”

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Mom Arrested Again at Gwinnett County School Board Meeting

A mother who was previously arrested at a Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) Board meeting was again arrested Thursday night, according to a mother who attended the meeting.

“Last night Karen Pirkle was once again arrested at a school board meeting,” Brenda Stewart told The Georgia Star News. “She requested to secure a speaking slot and received written confirmation that she secured a spot.  She was arrested upon arriving and banned for life.”

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Gwinnett County Resident Arrested at School Board Meeting Speaks Out Against Superintendent

In an interview with The Georgia Star News, a Gwinnett County resident arrest at a  Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) spoke out against the measures taken by the school district against parents who wish to protest the district’s mask mandates and teaching of Critical Race Theory (CRT). 

“At our school board meetings, we have 30 School Resource Officers (SROs) plus about 15 or so additional staff members, metal detectors, bag searches, video cameras and wands,” Brenda P. Stewart told The Star News. “It is a blatant attempt to violate the First Amendment rights of parents. Fear is being used to silence us. It is fundamentally wrong. We currently have about 75 to 100 visitors at school board meetings, so basically one staff member for every two or three citizens. It is insane.”

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Parents Sue Georgia’s Largest School District over Mask Requirement

Parents in Georgia’s largest school district are suing the superintendent and school system over its mask mandate, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

Four parents are seeking an injunction against the mask mandate at Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS), which serves around 180,000 students, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) reported. The requirement was implemented at the end of July when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended indoor masking for schools amid the rise of the delta variant.

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