California high school students stage walkout over Trump win

BERKELEY — Hundreds of students walked out of three East Bay high school Wednesday, protesting Republican Donald Trump’s presidential election victory.

Students at Berkeley High, Bishop O’Dowd and Oakland Tech all staged morning walkouts, reports CBS San Francisco.

The high school students joined protesters elsewhere in California and other parts of the nation who took to the streets to demonstrate against Trump’s win.

Berkeley Unified School District spokesman Charles Burress said about 1,500 Berkeley High School students participated in their protest that began around 8:20 a.m., just as classes were getting underway at the school at 1980 Allston Way.

Students then gathered outside the school, taking turns to speak on microphone.

Burress estimated about half the school’s students were participating. Classes, however, were still being held for students wishing to attend.

“Donald Trump may be president, but we are going to make sure that this man, that he is going to prioritize the well being of the people, so please join us in this fight,” an unidentified student said during the protest, addressing the large crowd.

“He wants us to turn against each other,” another female student said to the crowd as she held back tears. “I just want to emphasize that as young people it’s our job to continue to fight like our parents fought for us.”

Burress said the students have been very focused and respectful of each other and the situation.

“The district prefers that its students are in class and participating,” Burress said. “However, we do understand their concern and we take it very seriously when they feel passionate about political issues. We’re doing everything we can to support them.”