The lawsuit alleges that the decision to end the public comment period at a recent meeting violated the parents’ right to free speech.

In a new lawsuit filed in federal court, Loudoun County parents are suing the Loudoun County School Board and School Board Chair Melinda Mansfield for First Amendment violations.This month, Loudoun County School Board Chair Mansfield interrupted multiple parents and eventually ended public comment when parents brought up their concerns about a student who has ties to the MS-13 gang,