ALL EXTREMISTS
Directory
Note: Glendale extremists are highly networked with regional actors and groups as well as state/national policy, legal, and lobbying organizations.
GLENDALE
OUTSIDE GLENDALE
Ani Torosyan
Hate Group Leader Founder / Balekian & Henry Supporter
Ani Torosyan co-founded the GUSD Parents Voices Facebook Group and is regularly seen with Aneta, giving public comment, recording and harassing parents who support inclusion at Board meetings, and now appearing on Fox News claiming to speak for all Glendale Parents.
Torosyan was part of the campaign against a 3rd grade teacher in spring 2022.
She also has filed numerous PRA requests with GUSD and was filmed at the "Leave Our Kids Alone" tent at Glendale Cruise Night in July 2023 (pictured right).
Torosyan appears to have founded now defunct app DishDivvy and has appeared at Glendale Tech Week as an "entrepreneur."
Torosyan spoke at the 10/10 GUSD School Board meeting alongside Jordan Henry, Alex Balekian, and James Clarke. Henry was wearing a shirt with a nude male painting targeting local artist Grey James.
In early 2024, she helped canvass for Alex Balekian.
Elise Shope Henry
Jordan Henry's Wife & Backer
Elise Shope Henry spoke against protections for LGBTQ+ students at the April 18th, 2023 GUSD School Board Meeting during public comment. At that meeting she was interviewd by Prager U (picture above from Prager U site) outside the GUSD district office about her opposition to inclusive curriculum, despite having no children enrolled in GUSD.
Elise is married to Jordan Henry and donated the $1190 max to Jordan's failed City Council Race in 2022.
She has also donated to the failed "Restricts Rights of Transgender Youth" ballot initiaive.
Celena Mesa
Religious Extremist / Henry Sycophant
Celena Mesa is a Catholic extremist. Although she is a Glendale resident, her kids appear to either be homeschooled or attend private religious school. She frequently attends GUSD events in support of Jordan Henry & Aneta Krpekyan and has harassed district parents.
Mesa was part of a failed banner drop in the summer of 2023 with Hasmik Bezirdzhyan. She also filmed herself sharing misinformation at a LOKA booth, filmed members of the public and harassed GUSD staff at Glendale Cruise Night in 2023 with Ani Torosyan, Ray Shelton, & Ani Grigorian.
Despite having no kids in GUSD and being unable to vote for either Krpekyan or Henry, Mesa attended the Glendale PTA Council Candidate Forum hosted by the League of Women Voters. She repeatedly broke the rules by making noises, loudly talking and reacting, and being generally disruptive. When the meeting ended, Ray Shelton was filmed assaulting a woman. Mesa went out to eat with Shelton directly following this.
It's suspected that Celena Mesa comments on Nextdoor and Facebook under thinly veiled pseudonyms, usually attacking the LGBT+ community and praising Jordan Henry.
Dorit Waldman
PRA Requestor & Religious Extremist
Dorit Waldman is responsible for several PRA requests to GUSD around keywords related to race and gender. She has given public comment multiple times at GUSD meetings criticizing curriculum and inclusive programs, while meetings were conducted over zoom in 2021 and at least once in person.
In her public comments, her talking points closely resemble those of Jordan Henry and she was heavily involved in his original "ANTI-CRT" Facebook group. According to publicly available records, she lives in La Crescenta and has worked as a social worker. LGBTQ+ individuals and families should be cautious if they encounter her in a professional setting.
Nara Varderesyan
Religious Extremist / LOKA Member / Henry Supporter
Nara is an LAUSD parent who was present at the violent Saticoy Elementary protest on 6/2/23 and since then appears to be closely tied to LOKA extremists. She promotes LOKA posts and anti-LGBTQ+ content heavily on social media.
She appears to have a history of opposing vaccines. She attended the 7/20/23 Chino Valley USD Board of Education meeting at which Sonja Shaw passed a forced outing policy and was photographed alongside Manuk Grigoryan (holding the flag), and numerous other right wing extremists. She also traveled to Orange Unified for a highly volatile meeting, alongside LOKA extremists Ani Grigorian, Narine Tadevosyan and others.
Eric Adamian
Religious Extremist / LOKA Member / Henry Supporter
Eric Adamian, or "Eric Semiauto," lives in La Crescenta and continues to appear at GUSD events with anti-LGBT+ groups. He does not appear to have children. Adamian was photographed canvassing with Jordan Henry.
Adamian attended the Glendale PTA Council Candidate Forum hosted by the League of Women Voters at which Ray Shelton was filmed assaulting a woman. Adamian went out to dinner with Shelton directly following this.
His instagram handle is @ericsemiauto.
Mike Mohill
Local Crank
Mike Mohill is a former losing candidate for Glendale City Council. He publishes an email "newsletter" which frequently posts misinformation and propaganda about GUSD, City Council, teachers, women and local nonprofits. Jordan Henry has appeared as a "guest contributor" to the newsletter. He attends most city council meetings, delivering invective in a distinctive high pitched whine. He donated almost $1190 to Jordan Henry's failed 2022 City Council campaign.
Mike Mohill was outed as gay man during a previous city council race, but is married to a woman (who also donated to Jordan Henry's campaign). He regularly vilifies the LGBTQ+ community in Glendale.
Tony Passarella
Political Pool Guy
Tony Passarella is a Glendale resident and runs a pool service. He frequently attends GUSD board meetings and City Council meetings, in support of Jordan Henry's false rhetoric, often with Ray Shelton. At one time he coached a local girls' basketball team and has bragged about giving "biblical lessons" during sports practices. It's unknown whether he has children, but he does not have any currently enrolled in GUSD.
In June of 2023, Passarella was documented repeatedly harrassing a local Christian women's & children's shelter for displaying a Pride flag.
Passarella was also present at the violent riot outside GUSD on June 6th, 2023 wearing a "Leave Our Kids Alone" shirt.
Belissa Cohen
T.E.R.F. and Gays Against Groomers Proponent
Belissa Cohen is a nepo-baby who in the 1980s/90s wrote a culture column and was assualted by Courtney Love. She is a lesbian who denies the validity of trans existence, opposes transgender rights and claims to run an org called "LGB Fightback" which does not appear to be active.
Cohen's is linked to numerous far right groups and individuals and her participation in violent, transphobic protests goes back to at least the July 2021 Wi Spa riot. She was photographed at GUSD Board meetings on June 6 and June 20, 2023.
According to Left Coast Right Watch's investigation, "In May of 2010, charges were filed against Cohen for Battery, Child Cruelty and Child Endangerment. She’s also been cited with at least five different criminal charges over the years. Documents show more than 16 different civil cases where Cohen served as plaintiff or defendant."
Bill Essayli
CA 63rd Assembly District Representative. Anti-LGBT+
Bill Essayli is a California assemblymember and right wing reactionary whose political career appears to be focused on restricting the rights of LGBTQ+ students, banning books, and doing political theater instead of legislating.
Essayli is not a parent, but claims to represent "parental rights" a widely recognized as a euphemism for anti-lgbtq+ demands. His personal attacks against other legislators led him to be removed from two Assembly committees in the last 12 months.
He is currently running for re-election and his current terms ends 12/2/24.
Mike Ancheta
Dangerous Anti-LGBTQ+ Rioter
Former MMA fighter and frequently seen with Proud Boys, Mike Ancheta was seen at GUSD allegedly carrying a knife and bear mace.
Ancheta was also present at the 8/22 LOKA rally in downtown Los Angeles and has a long history of attending violent right ring protests, including one at which he allegedly attacked journalist Vishal Singh, breaking multiple bones in his face.
Hasmik Bezirdzhyan
Religious Extremist & Violent Activist
Hasmik has a criminal record and spoke at 4/18, 5/2, 5/16 GUSD School Board meetings; she is a vocal homeschooler, has no kids in GUSD and does not live in Glendale.
She was filmed with Alen Khanyan (associates with Proud Boys and Tony Moon). She works as a photographer and has physically and verbally harassed actual GUSD parents at Board meetings and other events.
Hasmik was present at the violent GUSD riot on 6/6/23 (above) and 6/20 GUSD protests, and was seen arguing with a man at Glendale Cruise Night on Ani Grigorian's Instagram Live Feed (@hoyakapik).
Julie Hamill
Legal Counsel for California Policy Center and Palos Verdes School Boardmember
Julie Hamill is a lawyer employed by the right wing State Policy Network- affiiliated CA Policy Center.
She appears to have become involved with reactionary politics during the pandemic, forming the Alliance of Los Angeles County Parents in order to launch a losing lawsuit against the County of Los Angeles in opposition to mask mandates.
She is an active twitter/x user and frequently amplifies candidates and positions linked to the CA Policy Center's anti-LGBTQ+, anti-union efforts, including Jordan Henry and Sonja Shaw.
Bryce Henson
Anti-LGBT+ Activist & NAVY Extremist
Active duty Navy SEAL Bryce Henson (aka Ben Richards) has been filmed at multiple school districts across Southern California. Pictured above is Bryce Henson outside GUSD on June 6, 2023 before the violent riot broke out.
Henson was recently investigated by the Navy for his ties to extremist organizations such as Proud Boys.
As of June 2024, it is unclear if Henson has custody of his children.
Louis Flores
Proud Boy & Serial Assaulter
Louie Flores is a Proud Boy and frequent attendee of far right protests including those at GUSD. He appears to be engaged in anti-abortion activism and has been linked to Proud Boy banner drops and burnt Pride Flags around the Inland Empire.
Erin Friday
Anti-trans extremist activist
According to public records Clare Erin Friday is a retired attorney now seemingly focused exclusively on a personal mission to end medical care and social acceptance for trans youth.
The chief financial sponsor of the failed "Restricts Rights of Transgender Youth" ballot initiative, Friday appears frequently in the CA legislature, repeating misinformation, and demonstrating an apparent obsession with the body parts of children. Friday also appears frequently on right-wing media outlets to describe the ways she punished her child after discovering the child had experimented with a different identity- punishments included: removing the child from public school, restricting the child from contact with friends, restricting internet access, and sending the child to a "work camp."
Alen Khanyan
Proud Boys & Other Violent Groups Associate
Alen Khanyan associates with Proud Boys and has a criminal record.
Khanyan was in the GUSD 5/16 meeting parking lot, photographed with Jordan Henry. Lives in Burbank; connected with capitol rioter Tony Moon (Roof Korean Security is his branding); regularly attends right wing events in LA, on video committing violence. He was also present at the violent riot outside the 6/6 GUSD School Board meeting with Henry.
Khanyan rents out a Lincoln Continental with license plate "RIP JFK"; he also offers it as a chauffeured vehicle.
Tony Moon
January 6th Insurrectionist
Tony Moon does not live in Glendale and has no children in GUSD. He was in the parking lot of GUSD at the 5/16 board meeting in 2023 with Alen Khanyan. He was present at the violent June 6th, 2023 riot outside GUSD wearing an earpiece.
In August 2021 at an LA anti-mask rally with the Proud Boys, Moon was captured on video attacking a journalist.
Moon was photographed in downtown Los Angeles on August 25, 2023 at the failed Leave Our Kids Alone march to city hall, the date of which coincided with Jordan Henry's birthday.
Jennifer Kennedy
Anti-vax, anti-LGBTQ+ Attorney
Member of anti-trans org OurDuty and representative of the California Policy Council, currently pushing the illegal parental notification policy. Kennedy appears to have attended numerous volatile anti-school events statewide, including the violent rally at Saticoy Elementary on June 2nd.
Her legal work appears focused on opposing vaccines and promoting misinformation about trans individuals and healthcare.
Adam Michael Kiefer
Has Criminal Record for "Willful Cruelty to a Child"
Adam Michael Kiefer is not a Glendale resident and has no children in GUSD. He was filmed arguing with Glendale Police Officers at the June 6th GUSD Board meeting.
According to publicly available records, Kiefer served time for willful cruelty to a child. He has been seen at anti-government and anti-LGBTQ rallies across California.
Nicole Pearson
Attorney linked with anti-vaccine and anti-LGBTQ+ legislative activism.
Attorney with Facts Law Truth Justice, a right wing legal activist group which recruits and trains people to agitate at school board meetings and to advance anti-trans, anti-vaccine, anti-public school legislation. Pearson is connected with PERK and the California Parents Union (a project of CPC) and frequently travels to attend and speak at school board meetings statewide. On her social media she often promotes LOKA events and figures, especially Mom Army, and Mamalitia founder/ January 6 attendee Denise Aguilar.
Pearson's social media account shows an intense focus on conspiracy theories like chemtrails, anti-vaccine medical misinformation, and anti-LGBTQ+ extremism.
Armen Petrosian
Outside Agitator and Jordan Henry Associate
Armen Petrosian does not live in Glendale and it is unclear if he has kids in GUSD. According to publicly available filings, he is based out of Sunland-Tujunga.
Petrosian is frequently seen at GUSD events filming, seemingly for content for Jordan Henry. He appears to be connected to Leave Our Kids Alone and extremist Jordan Henry.
Hansel Orzame
Proud Boy & Religious Extremist
Orzame is a Christian Nationalist pastor who appears to minister to and organize with Proud Boys and other extremist individuals (like Tony Moon) and groups. Orzame was present at the violent anti-LGBTQ+ protest at GUSD on June 6th and also attended volatile school board meetings in Chino Valley.
Orzame urges his followers to engage in "spritual warfare" and has previously been arrested at a protest for urinating on a public mural.
Narek Palyan
Violent Anit-LGBT+ Protester & Outside Agitator
Narek Palyan is from Van Nuys and has no kids in GUSD or Glendale.
From SCEW:
"Narek Palyan is member of the “Leave Our Kids Alone” (LOKA) coalition and a strong stalwart of their protests and rallies. Some have even described him as the group’s mascot. He is most recognized as the man giving Nazi salutes at LOKA marches, so naturally it isn’t surprising that he often glorifies the German and American Nazi parties. Although Palyan has openly denied raising his arm in the easily recognizable “Sieg Hail”, the multiple photos of him performing it combined with his openly antisemitic content is alarming."
On April 30th, 2024, Palyan, a known antisemite, was photographed at UCLA on the counter protest side of the encampments.
Denise Soto
Religious Extremist & Anti-Public School Activist
Possibly a physician, Soto joined GUSD Parent Voices and other regional school parent groups seemingly in order to promote anti-public school and anti-vaccine materials on an almost-daily basis beginning in 2021. She is a self-professed homeschool mom who is head of the education committee for a Christian organization and has given a presentation on homeschooling at a Redlands church linked to other anti-government extremists.
She was present for a violent protest against Black Lives Matter while working to advance a CA for School Choice voucher-centered ballot initiative.
Narine Tadevosyan
Pro-Homeschooler & Wanna Be Mommy Blogger
She does not live in Glendale or have children in GUSD. Narine Tadevosyan films and harasses parents at GUSD Board meetings, which she then posts to her Instagram accounts. Jordan Henry appeared on her Instagram Live twice in May 2023. She uses the GUSD protests to recruit for her homeschooling network. She also appears to have a website offering "life coaching" skills under the brand "Nar Smart."
Her social media is full of anti-trans content. Traveled to the Chino Valley School Board Meeting on 7/20 to make public comment despite having no children enrolled in those schools.
Sonja Shaw
Religious & Political Extremist / Chino Valley USD Board Member
Sonja Shaw is President of the Chino Valley Unified School District, and engaged in multiple lawsuits with the state resulting from her refusal to uphold state law regarding the protection of LGBTQ+ students. Selected by Christian Nationalist pastor Jack Hibbs to advance anti-public education, anti-LGBTQ+ policy goals created by the designated hate group Family Research Council and Council for National Policy.
Besides her mega-church and right wing political ties, Shaw is connected to and has been photographed with extremist groups including LEXIT, LUCA, Proud Boys, Three Percenters, Gays Against Groomers as well as individuals who voice neo-Nazi rhetoric. She frequently appears on Fox News, Newsmax, and other right wing outlets.
Jonathan Zachreson
Extremist School Board Member / Henry Supporter
Jonathan Zachreson is a school board member in Roseville, CA (approximately a 6 hour drive from Glendale) and one of 3 individuals who endorsed Jordan Henry's failed school board campaign. Zachreson is linked to anti-public school, anti-union org California Policy Center and supports forced outing, book bans, and other anti-democratic policies. Zachreson was an active opponent of pandemic safety measures and was also co-founder of "Protect Kids CA" the group behind a failed ant-trans ballot measure. Local researchers identified anomalies in one group connected with Zachreson's efforts and have rasied serious questions about his potential violations of ethical guidelines and campaign finance laws.
Manuk Grigoryan
Anti-LGBT+ Extremist & Leave Our Kids Alone Proponent
Manuk Grigoryan was involved in the protest based at Saticoy Elementary on June 2nd and later appeared on Fox News several times. It's unclear whether his children attend school in LAUSD or GUSD. Based on publicly available data, he appears to live in Van Nuys and may have a criminal record. Traveled to Chino Valley School Board meeting on 7/20/23 despite having no children enrolled in that district. Was also at Orange Unified on September 7th despite having no children enrolled there.
Manuk appears to have developed connections with Proud Boy associates around Southern California and Portland Oregon-- for two years in a row he has participated in Chris Reyes' "WAR Heroes" rally organized with known extremists.
Manuk hosts the LOKA Podcast on the far right Red Angeles podcast network/youtube channel.
Karine "Ani" Grigorian
Anti-LGBTQ+ Extremist with Nazi views
Karine Grigorian has attended the major June protests at GUSD against the district. She claims membership in the Saticoy protest connected "Leave Our Kids Alone (LOKA)" group. With that group, she live-streamed their table at Glendale Cruise Night via her Instagram (@hoyakapik), and can be heard off-camera claiming she was being "harassed" by a cruise night attendee who was asking questions calmly at their booth. In the audio she calls the attendee a pedophile and pervert. She is pictured above at the June 6th protest, vaping in the parking lot, despite vaping being against the law and something that GUSD works very hard to prevent students from doing. Her LinkedIN profile says she is completing a psychology degree. In her frequent livestreams and reels she says she does not have children and repeats extremely anti-semitic claims. Pictured above with Aneta Krpekyan (far left). She was at the Chino Valley Board meeting on 7/21 based on photos at the event.
Marina Vivar
Description here
Coming soon.
Gays Against Groomers (GAG)
Designated Hate Group
A designated hate group founded and funded by Trump operatives and extremists (including far-right militias), Gays Against Groomers does not represent local support- their website offers a form by which GAG members can be requested to appear at school board meetings.
Clint Milby
Right wing streamer
Clint Milby was filming and in the parking lot on 6/6/23. He has a documented record of harassing Pride events in Burbank and elsewhere. Lives in Burbank and does not appear to have children in GUSD. Lists job "producer."
Travis Witcher
Right wing streamer with technical difficulties
Whitcher is known to be violent and aggressive and should be avoided at all costs. He may have intellectual or developmental disabilities. He has a long history of agitation at various right wing protests and was captured on video yelling slurs and threats at Saticoy Elementary on 6/2 and in the thick of the chaos at GUSD on 6/6 among other LOKA events.
J. Emilio Martinez
Right Wing Provacateur/ Propagandist
A filmmaker and perennial candidate for political office, Martinez is a frequent attendee of right wing protests. He was photographed praying with Proud Boys at a DTLA rally and later arrested at the anti-LGBTQ+ June 6th protest at GUSD.
He appears linked to right wing radio host/ CAGOP Regional Vice Chair David Hernandez, as both appear at events together and are involved with Gen Z propaganda account 180.Shift and podcast network Red Angeles. Martinez is the father of 180.Shift co-host/anti-abortion activist, Tara Martinez-Fernandez.
Shiva Bagheri
Pro-Trump Anti-Vax Former Fitness Influencer
A leading organizer of the chaotic far-right anti-vax and pro-Trump Beverly Hills "freedom rallies," Bagheri is an anti-LGBTQ+, anti-abortion extremist who has been detained multiple times for disruptive public acts, including at the DTLA Loka rally on 8/22/23.
Andy Lai
January 6er linked to Proud Boys
Andy Lai participated in the January 6 insurrection alongside violent extremist Tony Moon. He frequently attends far right protests and demonstrations in the company of Proud Boys and other extremists though it is not confirmed if his is formally affiliated. Lai appeared at numerous anti-public school, anti-LGBTQ+ protests including GUSD, Chino Valley, and DTLA. He also supported the school board campaigns of Jordan Henry and Aneta Krpekyan and while canvassing was documented harassing local Montrose business owners.
Adolfo Flores
Anti-abortion, anti-LGBTQ+ Catholic Extremist
Flores is a Catholic extremist linked to TPUSA who appeared at multiple GUSD school board meetings in the Spring of 2023 to opposed inclusive curriculum and protections for LGBTQ+ individuals. He was seen attempting to register new voters at a table featuring TPUSA materials. He also attended the anti-LGBTQ+ Dodger stadium protest and frequently posts anti-abortion, pro-Christian nationalist rhetoric on social media.
Bentelligent
Republican Party Operative linked to extremist groups
Coming soon.
Donald Wilson Bush
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Seen at the June 6th parking lot rally coordinating with several leaders, including Jordan Henry. Runs the "Woodrow Wilson Legacy Center" and has appeared on the Wise Nuts podcast. President/CEO of Armenian National Association, "a 501(c) 4 tax-exempt corporation committed to unifying the Armenian Diaspora in support of Armenia and Artsakh." Appears close to Bedros K. Hajian, who regularly posts trans and homophobic content on his social media. Bush Does not live in Glendale or have children in GUSD.
Eduard Aslanyan
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Eduard Aslanyan appears to be a significant supplier of materials and resources— including vehicles, signage, t-shirts and staging locations- for the Leave Our Kids Alone group and their allies.
Aslanyan was seen handing out Leave Our Kids Alone t-shirts for the first time at the anti-LGBTQ+ protest at Saticoy Elementary School on June 2, 2023.
At Saticoy a large black Dodge pick-up truck was parked across the street pulling a trailer with a large “Leave Our Kids Alone” banner. The same truck and trailer/banner was also seen at Glendale Unified School District on 6/6; Temecula on 6/26; Chino Valley School District on 7/20; DTLA on 8/25.
A person of the same name and age as Aslanyan was convicted of felony assault in 2008. A person of the same name and age as Aslanyan was convicted of medicare fraud in 2018.
Businesses linked to Aslanyan appear to show him engaged in business activities which he should be barred from due to prior convictions. Aslanyan appears closely connected with LOKA leader Manuk Grigoryan and has been photographed with former deputy Stephen Waroff. The newly founded LOKA foundation is registered to the same address as numerous of Aslanyan’s businesses.
Jill Simonian
PragerU Propagandist
Joined forces with Jordan Henry in spring 2023. Left a career in broadcast journalism to become a full-time right-wing presence on Prager U. Also runs a parenting site. Simonian has stated she pulled her children from public school, but it is not known whether she homeschools or sends them to private school. She is confused about what is actually taught in public schools and regularly insists that she "does not hate LGBTQ people," while amplifying misinformation and appearing to work tirelessly in support of national efforts to minimize their presence in curriculum and society.
Yeva Babayan
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Runs a graphic design business (Yevalution.com) and harasses parents at GUSD board meetings. Yeva is responsible for posters, flyers and other printed material used to defame GUSD schools, teachers, and LGBTQ+ people.
Gayane Adamyan
GUSD Parent, Remax Executive Assistant, GUSD protest attendee, PRA requester
Gayane Adamyan is pictured above holding the sign (the same sign Ray Shelton is holding on the far right) at the 5/16/23 GUSD Board Meeting. She appeared at the 6/6/23 GUSD protest on the side of the lot with Proud Boys and Jordan Henry holding a banner with a GUSD teacher's face and name on it. She submitted a PRA to GUSD for attendance records related to the anti-LGBTQ protest in June 2023 that was organized by the GUSD Parents' Voices group.
Anthony Cabassa
Far right news streamer, Catholic extremist, Franco fetishist
Linked to PragerU and other orgs Cabassa is a frequent attendee of LOKA gatherings including the violent protests at Saticoy Elementary on 6/2 and GUSD on 6/6, the DTLA rally on 9/22 and others. Recently he appeared as a speaker at a Moms for Liberty gathering in San Luis Obispo.
Cabassa is an accelerationist who claims to want a holy war that results in Catholic domination. He has attended a Michael Flynn trad Cath event at Mar a Lago. He also organizes with the LAGOP, specifically the Patrick Lee Gipson campaign, and recently announced he is a surrogate for the trump 2024 campaign.