SAN ANTONIO — SAN ANTONIO — Maribel Gardea, a local mother and special needs advocate, was arrested at an Edgewood Independent School District meeting for exceeding her allotted speaking time.
Gardea, who was advocating for transparency, safety, and accountability from the district, was charged with criminal trespass, disrupting a meeting or procession, and resisting arrest after refusing to stop speaking.
At a news conference held Thursday, Gardea, joined by parents and community members, declared, “When I say parent, you say power,” as she received cheers and chants of support. Reflecting on her arrest, Gardea said, “I kept reading. I walked out, but I’m going to still keep reading, walking out. I feel like I did what I had to do without resistance.”
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Gardea recounted her experience, stating, “I went into Bexar County Jail, which I had no idea that it was going to lead to that extent.”
Her sons, present at the press conference, defended her actions, saying, “She did nothing wrong at all. She was just doing what she did. She abided by the law. It was just the officers that made it more difficult, not even reading her her rights.”
Parents from Edgewood ISD also voiced their concerns and frustrations. Jessica, one of the parents, emphasized, “This time around, we’re fighting for our children’s schools to be safe. We’re fighting for them to be taught by certified teachers who take their profession serious. We’re fighting for them to learn in the environment free of constant anxiety and disruption.”
Another parent, Dora, added, “Our children only get one chance at education. We cannot afford to fail that. We are not asking for extras. We are asking for what our students and staff legally and morally deserve.”
The community is now demanding that Gardea’s charges be dropped, a formal apology from the district, and a meeting to address their concerns. Gardea has called for the Texas Attorney General’s Office to investigate Edgewood ISD’s actions.