This Is How YOU Do It! Parents Showed Up-And Won

These Parents Fought Back-And Got Results at Don’t Tread on Parents Day

When parents, students, and school leaders flooded the General Assembly last Tuesday—filling the hallways in bright yellow and green—they delivered a clear message to lawmakers:

“For every one of us here, there are thousands more back home.”

And Richmond heard them.

From meetings with lawmakers across multiple floors… to a packed press conference… to praying in the halls and looking legislators in the eye… families delivered a warning Richmond can’t ignore: stop sidelining parents, stop politicizing our kids, and start protecting Virginia’s children.

A Mic-Drop Moment

One of the most moving moments came from Elijah, an 18-year-old student at Regents School at Charlottesville, who shared how when he first came to this country as an immigrant, he longed for an education that honored his faith traditions. He described the heartbreak of learning he would not be able to study Scripture in the first public school he visited—and why the freedom to choose faith-based education matters so deeply to families like his. "During the ride back home, I asked my father, ‘Will this school teach me more about the Bible?’… I remember when my dad told me no, I cried till I got home.”

“I’m here today to ask the legislators to not cut or end my scholarship… but to extend the program so that other kids like me can excel.” Check out the full press conference video below.

Big Victories & Ongoing Battles

And here’s the incredible part:

The very next day, the bill threatening private and faith-based schools was rolled to 2027.

Parents showed up—and the bill was stopped.

Make no mistake: we’ll be ready the second it resurfaces. But this was proof that showing up matters.

That wasn’t the only impact.

Parents also pushed back on HB 614, the bill embedding identity politics into history lessons and testing. “Our children should be learning history grounded in facts and what unites us as Americans—not through a hierarchy of identity groups,” said Jordan, a Charlottesville father of four. The bill was reduced to a commission study—more proof that showing up makes a difference.

Seth, a Loudoun County dad whose son was at the center of the widely reported locker-room case, called out lawmakers for continuing to block common-sense privacy protections in bathrooms and locker rooms, urging basic safeguards for student dignity and safety.

And Rachel, a Hanover County mom, warned against several bills that would weaken parents’ ability to address explicit materials in school libraries. Those bills passed both chambers and now move to the opposite chamber following crossover—so this fight is far from over. Watch for last-minute alerts as these measures continue through the legislative process.  

A Capitol Moment 

Throughout the day, parents, students and school leaders visited legislative offices on multiple floors of the General Assembly and were recognized in both the House and Senate galleries by Senator Glen Sturtevant and Delegate Karen Hamilton.

They prayed with legislators.
They handed out Scripture cards.
They encouraged those standing firm.

It was a capitol moment we won’t forget. Virginia families showed up with courage, clarity, and conviction. They reminded lawmakers that children are not political pawns and that parental rights are not optional.

Thank you for making days like this possible. Because of your support, parents, students, and school leaders were able to stand boldly, speak clearly, and make a measurable impact.

Richmond is paying attention.

And we’re just getting started.