Boston Superintendent Has Message For Students Planning Walkout Over Trump
BOSTON (CBS) -- Students throughout the City of Boston walked out of class Monday to protest President-elect Donald Trump. Before they rallied on Boston Common, City Hall, and at the State House in the afternoon, Boston Public Schools Superintendent Tommy Chang had a message for them.
"Losing classroom time won't help anyone," Chang said in a message on Twitter. "There is a time and place for these conversations to happen. And peaceful advocacy for what you care about is important, but not during learning time."
Dear Students, please see the following message from @SuptChang regarding your walk out plans. #bostonstudentwalkout pic.twitter.com/a0H04Tgz4t
— BostonPublicSchools (@BostonSchools) December 4, 2016
The students called for protection from a Trump presidency. They are asking Gov. Charlie Baker and Mayor Marty Walsh to protect public education, undocumented immigrants, muslims, women, and members of the LGBTQ community.
They're also asking for local political leaders to denounce Steve Bannon, Trump's proposed Chief White House Strategist.
Student now marching to the State House #TrumpProtest pic.twitter.com/6I2EphebbX
— Bernice Freedman (@BerniceNews) December 5, 2016
"I've seen your demands, and as a city, we've committed to many of them," Chang said in his message. "We are a city that supports all families from all backgrounds. Divisiveness and discrimination have no place in BPS, or the City of Boston."
The students marched to the State House chanting, "Youth united will never be defeated!"
Chang said students' voices are important, but he encourages them to use their voices on school campuses with peers as well as teachers and staff.
Boston students have planned large protests in the past. Earlier this year, they organized rallies calling for increased funding for public education.
The student walkouts are planned for 1 p.m.