April 20, four anti-abortion protesters from Bolton, Mississippi, stood on the Daisy Bates public sidewalk as students arrived in the morning.

Holding signs and pamphlets saying “Abortion is Murder,” the protesters stayed for just over an hour, speaking to students and staff through a microphone and handing out flyers containing biblical verses and guides to restoring manhood.

Abortion has been a topic of student protest in the past, with hundreds staging a walk-out in Nov. 2024, to speak out against restrictive healthcare in Arkansas. 

A few members of Campus Safety and Security, along with the Little Rock Police Department, instructed students to proceed to class as normal, and students were reminded that conversation with the protesters was not required. 

Principal Nancy Rousseau notified parents via text at 9:23 a.m., detailing the event and assuring parents that students remained safe. 

“At no time did the situation escalate. School staff reminded students that they were not required to engage and to proceed directly into the building,” Rousseau said in her message.

Her message added that the issue had been resolved, and that the school day would proceed as normal.

Rousseau’s full statement here.