Maskless man arrested as fireworks erupt at school board meeting

 Police arrested a maskless man at a special school board meeting in Palm Beach County, Fla. Wednesday afternoon.

The man refused to take his seat in a room reserved for maskless individuals after several warnings.

Because I chose to speak, I am now being arrested," the man said as officers put him into handcuffs.

The suspect has been identified as 33-year-old Everett Cooper of Loxahatchee.

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Police arrested a man who refused to take a seat at the Palm Beach County School Board meeting 

Jail records show Cooper faces charges of disturbing the peace, resisting an officer, and trespassing.

Everett Cooper, 33, of Loxahatchee, charged with disturbing the peace, resisting an officer, and trespassing at the school board meeting on Aug. 25, 2021.

The school board meeting to discuss a potential legal challenge to the ban on mask mandates in schools started off rocky.

Prior to the arrest, members in the audience shouted the Pledge of Allegiance.

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School Board chair Frank Barbieri orders police to remove several people from the meeting

And as school board chair Frank Barbieri read through the rules of the meeting, he asked police to remove one person from the chamber.

Seconds later, Barbieri ordered school police to remove those who refused to take their seats in the room for maskless guests.

The board later voted to pursue legal action against the ban on mask mandates in schools.