Parents look to uplift students days after man with megaphone shouts at them outside of school

Students at Fairmont High School got a warm welcome Thursday morning as parents held signs with positive messages days after a man protested outside of the school.

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As shown on News Center 7 at 5:30, started getting to the school before 7:30 a.m. on Thursday with signs sharing messages like “I believe in you” and “You are worth it.” This was all in hopes of promoting positivity for students.

“I’m out here spreading love to these kids,” Lauren Caruso, a parent of a Fairmont student, said.

Parents like Caruso want students to know their community supports them.

“Even though there’s one single person that can say some mean stuff, that there’s a ton more that can say some really, really great stuff,” Caruso said.

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News Center 7 reported on Tuesday that a man stood outside the school with a megaphone and spread messages that parents said caused concern and panic.

Parents want what happened Tuesday to be a distant memory.

“He is not here today,” Sarah Roberts, a parent, said. “We are here today just with love.”

Roberts told News Center 7 that her student doesn’t go to Fairmont, but is in the Kettering School District. She said the issue of student safety causes anxiety and Tuesday’s events didn’t help.

“It’s heartbreaking,” she said. “Number one, I think sadness really struck and I’m past the rage.”

Roberts added it’s times like these that are so important to spread positivity.

“We will come out and tenfold and we will be here for you when you need us,” she said.

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