Community Holds the Line Against Attacks on Student Rights at Chariho School Committee Meeting
In a powerful show of resistance, community members packed the Chariho School Committee meeting last night to defend Title IX protections, trans and gender-diverse student rights, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) education, and the fight against book bans.
With school committees across Rhode Island facing growing pressure to roll back inclusive policies, organizers made it clear: attacks on student rights will not go unchallenged. More than 100 community members and 30 speakers stood in firm support of the RIDE policy protecting trans students, delivering compelling personal stories, expert medical testimony, and legal arguments.
Due to this overwhelming public outcry, the school committee paused its effort to strip state-mandated protections—a temporary win that underscores the urgency of continued advocacy.
"The fight isn’t over," said Jocelyn Foye of The Womxn Project. "We know these efforts to undermine bodily freedom and education equity will continue, but so will our movement. What happened in Chariho is a roadmap for action across Rhode Island and we are here to defend bodily freedom for all."
“I am so encouraged by the outpouring of resistance to the efforts of right-wing School Committee members here in the Chariho School District, which is historically a very conservative conclave,” says Etta Zasloff. “It was obvious at this March 11 meeting, that the community is not going to stand for the dismantling of this high ranking school system with their emphasis on ‘policy reviews’ and ‘reconsiderations,’ which only serve to distract the School Administration from the work of serving students.”
The Womxn Project’s Bodily Freedom Action League will continue to work with communities to defend student rights and counter right-wing attacks.
I was grateful to see the turnout in favor of equal rights at the CSC meeting. This I believe is a truer representation of the beliefs of the majority of residents in this pocket of RI which is often painted as redneck central.
Much as I despise Chiaradio’s anti-equality beliefs and falsehoods, I was sorry that the audience disrespected his right to spew them. This is national Civic Learning Week, and we were reminded at a webinar on free speech of the quote “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it”, and the fact that hate speech is protected by the First Amendment unless it morphs into hate crime. (Though I would defend Chiaradio’s right to free speech, I wouldn’t go so far as dying for it!)
This column has made my day! What an amazing model of community action! Thank you Steve for your invaluable work, and to all the community members who have the strength and courage to stand up to the bullies and work together to send them back to the shadows.
From The Womxn Project:
Community Holds the Line Against Attacks on Student Rights at Chariho School Committee Meeting
In a powerful show of resistance, community members packed the Chariho School Committee meeting last night to defend Title IX protections, trans and gender-diverse student rights, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) education, and the fight against book bans.
With school committees across Rhode Island facing growing pressure to roll back inclusive policies, organizers made it clear: attacks on student rights will not go unchallenged. More than 100 community members and 30 speakers stood in firm support of the RIDE policy protecting trans students, delivering compelling personal stories, expert medical testimony, and legal arguments.
Due to this overwhelming public outcry, the school committee paused its effort to strip state-mandated protections—a temporary win that underscores the urgency of continued advocacy.
"The fight isn’t over," said Jocelyn Foye of The Womxn Project. "We know these efforts to undermine bodily freedom and education equity will continue, but so will our movement. What happened in Chariho is a roadmap for action across Rhode Island and we are here to defend bodily freedom for all."
“I am so encouraged by the outpouring of resistance to the efforts of right-wing School Committee members here in the Chariho School District, which is historically a very conservative conclave,” says Etta Zasloff. “It was obvious at this March 11 meeting, that the community is not going to stand for the dismantling of this high ranking school system with their emphasis on ‘policy reviews’ and ‘reconsiderations,’ which only serve to distract the School Administration from the work of serving students.”
The Womxn Project’s Bodily Freedom Action League will continue to work with communities to defend student rights and counter right-wing attacks.
I was grateful to see the turnout in favor of equal rights at the CSC meeting. This I believe is a truer representation of the beliefs of the majority of residents in this pocket of RI which is often painted as redneck central.
Much as I despise Chiaradio’s anti-equality beliefs and falsehoods, I was sorry that the audience disrespected his right to spew them. This is national Civic Learning Week, and we were reminded at a webinar on free speech of the quote “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it”, and the fact that hate speech is protected by the First Amendment unless it morphs into hate crime. (Though I would defend Chiaradio’s right to free speech, I wouldn’t go so far as dying for it!)
This column has made my day! What an amazing model of community action! Thank you Steve for your invaluable work, and to all the community members who have the strength and courage to stand up to the bullies and work together to send them back to the shadows.