Burlington leaders, parents denounce student destruction of high school Pride decorations – NBC Boston

City leaders in Burlington, Mass., met Monday night to discuss a Pride Day protest at a high school.

Parents and allies voiced concern about the actions of some students at Marshall Simonds Middle School’s Pride Spirit Day as the Burlington Select Board met.

The district said some of the children destroyed the rainbow decorations. According to the Burlington Equity Coalition, some students wore red, white and blue clothing and chanted “My pronouns are ‘USA’.”

“I was shocked and horrified,” said Nila Almstrom, parent of an LGBTQ student at the high school.

Almstrom told NBC10 Boston that his son, who goes by him, was there on June 2 when it happened.

“I asked them if they were OK and they said, ‘I choose not to pay attention to this.’ And I thought that was very brave and mature of them,” Almstrom said.

“Burlington Public Schools is obligated to provide a safe environment for all students to feel safe, seen and respected without retaliation,” Superintendent Eric Conti said in a letter to parents. “We are calling on all Burlington Public School staff, faculty and community members to join us in taking a stand against homophobia and identity-driven hateful actions.”

At Monday night’s meeting, several parents spoke and called for the select board to act.

“There are some undercurrents in Burlington that the city administration and the school administration need to address more directly and more firmly,” said Carl Foss, an elementary school parent.

Joe Anne Frustaci asked that the city invest in a diversity, equity and inclusion subcommittee.

“We have to act, because they disbanded a committee, they have no plan to reinstate the DEI committee,” he said.

Select Board member Michael Espejo shared his condolences, saying he lost sleep over the incident and that it shocked him to the core.

Still, for parents like Almstrom, the conversation starts at home.

“They got organized, they came to school in costumes and face paint. And if they’re old enough to do that, then they’re old enough to have that conversation, and they should have that conversation,” she said.

The Burlington School Committee is scheduled to meet Tuesday night, when discussions on the issue are likely to continue.