Groups like Support Our Schools are popping up across the nation to fight back against the dangerous political message being sent by groups like Moms for Liberty, Moms for America, and the Proud Boys. ABC Action News, out of Tampa Bay, did a special investigation to report on groups like ours that aren’t caving to the demands of the few, just because they’re louder. Watch the report below.

SOS Cofounder, Jules Scholles: “They’re ruining our schools, and they’re not stopping,” the 41-year-old said. “You’ve got no masks, you’ve got no vaccines, you’ve got no CRT, you’re about to get no teaching anything that makes White children feel bad, why are you still so effing angry? Like why are you still coming to these meetings so juiced up and angry?” said Scholles, who is White.

Lisa Schurr, an attorney who lives in Sarasota, and three other women recently founded Support Our Schools, a statewide group that advocates for what they describe as diverse, fact-based school curriculums and textbooks.

“We are all appalled about what is happening in Florida,” said Schurr, 62. “They don’t want our kids to be critical thinkers. … And to say [a student] can’t feel discomfort. What about the child of color? What about the gay child? You don’t think this legislation is making them feel discomfort? You don’t think they have felt discomfort for all of their lives?”

OUR POSITION: We think it’s a great idea for a number of area groups to get together and work to support their schools and teachers and tone down the rhetoric at school board meetings. Support Public Schools.

A new coalition called Support Our Schools launched on Tuesday morning. The idea for this group all started at the heels of an uproar at school board meetings in Manatee and Sarasota counties. “There are people in our community who support our voices in spite of the fact that we’re not the ones shouting,” said member Paulina Testerman. They say their aim is to combat hate and prejudice.

The mission is to protect public schools: Students, teachers and parents. A group of residents concerned about the behavior at recent school board meetings have formed a coalition called “Take the pledge to stand up for Sarasota and Manatee County public schools.”

Sarasota and Manatee County nonprofits call for calm at school board meetings. The 16 nonprofit organizations want the community to take the pledge to stand up for public schools and support local school boards. Coverage from WTSP - 10 Tampa Bay.

A new coalition formed by 16 nonprofit organizations has come together to combat hostility at local school board meetings.

The founders of SOS were featured as guest columnists in the 12/28/2021 issue of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune asking for a public apology from current Sarasota School Board member Karen Rose for her collaboration with the Proud Boys at a recent town hall.

Two of the SOS founders, Lisa & Jules, sat down with Leyla Santiago from CNN to discuss why groups like Moms for Liberty are dangerous