Rising Tension
In light of recent events regarding our country’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Walkersville High school students have taken to social media to coordinate the walkout which occurred on February 18th to further show disapproval for the federal agency. While most of the drama has unfolded online, it did not escape the attention of Walkersville High school’s administration; multiple emails were sent out before and after the fact, as well as announcements to the school, highlighting potential consequences for leaving the school building without permission. WHS admin had pledged to supervise, but not condone this protest in an effort to prioritize student safety.
“It was about people and why do we treat each other the way [we do?]” says Isaiah Martin, the organizer of this walkout. He followed up with, “I wanted to see how many people could come together and show each other that we care.” He also expressed how happy and surprised he felt with the amount of people who came out to attend, showing how this protest brought people together.
Many reported posters being made in advance, and plans of people leaving fourth block. A good portion of students ended up at the front of the school, holding signs and chanting. Classmates came together One student who attended said, “I didn’t make a sign, and one of my friends from another class said we could share theirs.” A sophomore who went stated, “I thought it would be more impactful if more people were there, that’s why I went.” Another sophomore said, “I went because I support the cause; I’d like to go to another protest too.”
“I think to half the kids it’s a reason for them to leave class,” said another skeptical freshman. Some students decided not to participate in the walkout, whether it be because of personal beliefs or because of the possible repercussions. Teachers were instructed to take attendance of who left the class at 1:00, and to send emails home. Parents were informed many times over, with another email going out after the fact stating, “Students’ First Amendment rights of speech and to assemble are important, but are not absolute. Those rights during the school day are balanced with the school system’s authority and responsibility to meet the educational mission of the school system.”
Trying Times
Americans across the United States have been protesting; just the other day, FCPS schools planned walkouts to speak out against the events currently happening within our country. With the students of Frederick High leaving their classrooms to walk the streets of downtown Frederick, and schools like West Frederick Middle, Linganore, and Oakdale High walking out of their school buildings to further the protests. It’s important that in these agitating times communities be there for each other, and stand up for their neighbors — and what they believe in. To put it best, in the words of Martin Luther King Jr,
“So the question is not whether we will be extremists, but what kind of extremists we will be. Will we be extremists for hate or for love? Will we be extremists for the preservation of injustice or for the extension of justice?”
