Resident urges Linn‑Mar to act after Nazi march in Marion; calls for concrete steps to protect students

Anna Clymer, a Marion resident, parent and member of the Marion Alliance for Racial Equity, told the Linn‑Mar board during the audience‑communication period that a Nazi march in downtown Marion on Saturday, April 19, prompted community concern and a call for stronger district action.

“This isn’t something distant or abstract. It happened here in the heart of our city,” Clymer said. She urged the district to respond with “clear courageous standing with dignity, equity, and protection for all our students and families,” and to follow statements with concrete actions that demonstrate students are “seen, valued, protected, and truly welcome in our schools.”

Clymer said the Marshall Alliance will share a “love conquers hate” message at an upcoming meetup and invited the district to join the effort. She also pointed to current efforts nationwide to roll back protections for transgender and immigrant students and said the district’s promises on diversity, equity, and inclusion “must remain unwavering.”

Context: the board opened a public hearing earlier in the meeting on the proposed FY2025–26 budget but had no speakers signed up for that hearing; Clymer’s remarks came during the general audience‑communication slot that followed.

Ending: Clymer’s remarks were not tied to a board motion; they were public comment urging policy and cultural responses from district leadership.