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VerifiedPublic Meeting Removal

Woman Arrested at Round Rock ISD Board Meeting Over Mask Comment

Aug 16, 2021Round Rock, TXSubmitted by Staff
Summary

On August 16, 2021, Round Rock ISD (Texas) trustees ordered the removal of parents Jeremy Story and Dustin Clark from a board meeting; both were arrested by district police and charged with hindrance of public duty. A judge later dismissed the charges and Story sued district officials under Section 1983.

Full report

Story attempted to speak during public comment about an alleged assault involving the superintendent that the board had not addressed; when he continued past his time and the board recessed, district police arrested him. Fellow parent Dustin Clark was arrested minutes later after objecting. Both were booked into Williamson County Jail. In 2022 a Texas judge dismissed the charges against Story and Clark. Story filed a federal civil-rights suit against RRISD trustees and police alleging First Amendment retaliation and unlawful arrest; the case proceeded past a motion to dismiss. The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) and other groups criticized the arrests as retaliation for protected speech.

Tags
#school-board#arrest#texas#first-amendment#section-1983#public-comment#lawsuit

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