Beck-backing protesters raise ruckus outside much-publicized elementary school

A group of protesters have taken it upon themselves to gather outside the school made famous by conservative media after a group of children were filmed singing the praises of President Barack Obama.

A collection of about 60 or 70 protesters, reportedly affiliated with Glenn Beck's "9/12 Project" and the "tea party" groups, stood in front of New Jersey's B. Bernice Young Elementary School on Monday morning.

"The protesters sang patriotic anthems and chanted slogans such as 'Free children, free minds,'" the Associated Press noted.

The South Jersey Courier Post Online added: "The school district, in a statement, said that it 'does not believe that protesting in front of an elementary school in session with four to seven year old children is appropriate.'"

Nevertheless, the group's event went off without incident. They kept off school grounds and were observed by about a half-dozen local police.

"A smaller group of counter-protesters watched and occasionally heckled them," AP added.

Superintendent Christopher Manno told the Burlington County Times that he had met with the rally's organizer and notified parents of what would be happening on Monday.

"We certainly don't want our families to be alarmed," he said. "... Participants in the rally will not be permitted on school property."

According to 6ABC Action News in Philadelphia, the school "houses kindergartners through second-graders."

The teacher who oversaw the class of students who sang about the president in honor of Black History Month has since retired. According to the school, parents were notified about the assembly and the song's lyrics had been sent home with the kids.

Everett Mitchell, executive editor of the Cherry Hill Post-Courier, told Fox's Greta Van Susteren during a Sept. interview that "no parents objected to [the song] prior to the assembly, during the assembly or after the assembly."

This video is from 6ABC Action News in Philadelphia, broadcast Oct. 12, 2009.

Photo sample credit: Courier Post Online.