In the court decision Tuesday, Chief Judge Pamela L. Brooks found sufficient evidence that a gender fluid individual committed sexual assault at Stone Bridge High School in Ashburn, Va., in May 2021.

Top ArticlesREAD M

When the father attempted to share his child’s story at a local school-board meeting in June a month later, he was arrested for disorderly conduct, allowing the sexual abuse to stay underground for months. The perpetrator was then transferred to Broad Run High School in Ashburn where he engaged in sexual misconduct with another female student in early October.

On Tuesday, students walked out of Broad Run High School, where the attacker was relocated and is still technically enrolled. The teenage defendant will receive sentencing after the second set of charges dealing with the Broad Run accusations are adjudicated, the judge said Tuesday.

Outside the school, a group of students chanted “Loudoun County protects rapists,” Drew Wilder of NBC Washington reported. “Why was a rapist allowed in our school?” another student shouted. “This isn’t a political issue, this is a human issue. Listen to the students,” a third student exclaimed.

A similar student-organized demonstration took place in front of Riverside High School in Leesburg, Va., Tuesday morning, according to video footage obtained by Drew Wilder.

After the episodes of sexual assault happened, Loudoun County School Board passed a sweeping gender-inclusivity policy allowing students to use restrooms and locker rooms, as well as compete in sports, according to their gender identity rather than biological sex. In its statement, however, LCPS claims that school-board members “were not aware of specific details of the incident” until October. However, Loudoun superintendent Scott Ziegler emailed the board on May 28 informing them that an alleged sexual assault had taken place in a school bathroom, according to WTOP.

On Monday, the principal of Broad Run, David Spage, sent an email presumably to faculty, administrators, and staff in anticipation of the walk-out.

“With freedom comes responsibility. Broad Run High School will provide a supervised environment for this protest. Students who choose to participate will not be penalized for their participation,” he added.