High school students walk out in protest of Trayvon Martin shooting

[Playinghardball]

Source: MSNBC

Hundreds of students at several South Florida high schools staged walkouts Friday morning in a massive protest against the lack of an arrest in the Trayvon Martin shooting.

Students from Miami Central, Miami Edison, Miami Norland, American Senior, William H. Turner High and Southridge High in Miami and Blanche Ely High School in Broward held walkouts.

At Miami Central and Turner, students were seen pouring out of the school buildings and into the streets just after 9 a.m.

Miami-Dade Police later reported a crowd of students had congregated at Southland Mall.



Read more: http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/23/10830314-high-school-students-walk-out-in-protest-of-trayvon-martin-shooting

[pinboy3niner]

1. 15 schools involved

According to one report, "Some stopped at convenience stores along the way to buy Arizona ice tea and Skittles."

And CNN aired a report this morning showing students at one school (South Miami HS?) forming human letters--TM--for Trayvon Martin's initials.

One report here on the 15 schools:
http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/03/23/2709512/miami-area-high-schools-stage.html#storylink=cpy

[JBoy]

2. And today those students are learning more than they did all last week.

[Comrade Grumpy]

3. These students are giving themselves (and the rest of us) a real civics lesson.

That's worth extra credit, in my book.

[virgogal]

5. Aw,come on, Most of them probably just wanted a day off.

[IndyJones]

20. Maybe some did, but I think the unity of the kids in high school communities is touching.

I prefer to think that they are the up and coming leaders of our country and they are standing together to make a statement for their brother/classmate/friend.

[AnotherMother4Peace]

27. In this case, I don't think so -I think it hits too close to home. Trayvon was a kid just like them.

edit to put in his name - Trayvon.

[alphafemale]

34. While in one sense I agree. (Being one that used to organize Walk-Outs at the drop of a hat.)

We used to do them all the time. I think one was because they raised the cost of (something or other...milk maybe?) by a nickel.

That was another era. I was in jrH/HS from the mid 70's to early 80's. Kids had much more freedom to do things like that then.

I think in this era of Zero Tolerance kids are at much higher risk of consequences.

And the Trayvon Martin issue is hitting people everywhere dead center in the chest.

[cheezmaka]

38. Very True!

That's worth extra credit in my book as well.

[Ruby the Liberal]

4. Wow - excellent story!

I am proud of those kids. Well done.

[Peregrine]

7. yes, because education was responsible for the shooting

Overwhelming majority just wanted to get an early start to spring break.

[Ruby the Liberal]

9. Thats the point you took from this story?

Color it a 'civics lesson' (something that seems to be sorely overlooked these days).

[LanternWaste]

10. I imagine we perceive those things which better validate our own agendas

I imagine we perceive only those things which better validate our own agendas, and deny those things which do not validate them...

I've been told that what an observer sees in a painting says much more about the observer than it does about the painting, however I do realize we will make the rationalize as to why it doesn't apply to us...

[Downwinder]

15. a Rorschach test.

[barbtries]

12. a very cynical perspective.

i don't take it that way at all.

[CreekDog]

17. Are you saying that you would've just been getting an early start on your spring break?

if you were in a protest like that?

[FarPoint]

18. Tell me what evidence you have to validate that statement.

I personally salute these students for exercising a healthy demonstration.

[dixiegrrrrl]

21. Pls. post your source for that motivation.

Lacking that, I will accept any proven credentials as a mass mind reader.

[kcass1954]

22. Really? Dade and Broward schools were on spring break last week.

Got a better excuse?

[DisgustipatedinCA]

23. what makes people post stuff like this? Now that your notion has been thoroughly discredited,

tell me, why would you say something like this, of all the replies you could have made? What piece of information led you to this odd conclusion?

[awoke_in_2003]

32. why say something like that?...

because the person is probably a freeper who posts infrequently (see join date and post count) and pops up every now and again to say something obnoxious.

[obamanut2012]

36. Whoa!

Good catch!

[Sabriel]

26. They're students...what ELSE would they walk out on?

Their houses?

A student walk-out is the same as a work slow-down or stoppage or boycott in the adult world.

It's all they have to work with.

[AnotherMother4Peace]

28. How you under estimate these students - Trayvon was their age "there by the grace of God" nt

Last edited Sat Mar 24, 2012, 12:34 AM - Edit history (1)

[Trillo]

31. Trayvon was on suspension.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002457977

There are metaphorical similarities between suspension and murder. The latter can be altered to attempted murder if understanding is difficult, but the original two seem to apply more literally to Trayvon.

These kids on strike, or walkout, are AWESOME!

[alp227]

6. call me a devil's advovate, but why couldn't they just do this AFTER school?

I doubt if walkouts are effective in an era of defunded public education.

[LanternWaste]

11. How precisely does a school walk-out work when no one's at school to walk out from?

How precisely does a school walk-out work when no one's at school to walk out from?

[Posteritatis]

13. Because people would neither notice nor care. (nt)

[Pale Blue Dot]

24. Do you honestly think that the national news would be covering this

if it was a walkout AFTER school?

As a teacher in a public school, I'll give you the answer: no.

I'm proud of these students!

[Humanist_Activist]

40. Does anyone else find this post to be particularly, uhm, unintelligent?

Its kinda like having a sit in in a place of business that is closed for the day, or protesting in the middle of no where(like a corn field, or desert).

[Initech]

8. If I had a hooded sweatshirt I'd wear it today to join the protest.

[marshall gaines]

14. great

Great, kids.

[kiranon]

16. Time for everyone to wear a hoodie. Worn one for years and

I'm a grandma.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

30. Me too!

I just got a new one with green stripes

when I am old, I shall wear Green...

[tavalon]

33. Actually, everyone in Seattle is issued one upon arrival

Usually, many more are acquired as time goes by. That's basically our uniform no matter the color of our skin.

[JackInGreen]

35. Loved the line for Standard Issue Hoodys

when I moved up here, seeing that I could have a selection in fleece, cotton, wool, hemp, and with a hell of a variety of linings, eventually I had to get one of every type, not just GI.

[dixiegrrrrl]

19. Good on them!

[oldhippydude]

25. the real terror for the PTB

those kids will probably vote as soon as they are eligable..

(i know spelling sucks help skinner!!!)

[friendly_iconoclast]

29. Proud to be the 50th rec- and proud of these students, too.

[bluevoter4life]

37. Local media down here

Reports that many of the school bands played during the walk-out, and the teachers and administration, while not in full support, have turned a blind eye and. Kudos to these students for honoring the memory of their fallen classmate and may the proper justice be served.

[cheezmaka]

39. I'm proud of these students as well

I'm sure a certain percentage will be ELIGLBLE to vote by the FALL so their voices can be heard even LOUDER...

[Igel]

41. Oh. I see.

A group of students walk out in protest over the lack of arrest.

Well, the thing to do is suspend the investigation. What more's needed?

Just arrest him already. The local democratization of the justice system. If a group forms and calls for a punishment, the punishment is obligatory.

That is the civics lesson. Justice, as perceived by a large group who don't possess all the information--just the information they think is relevant--is what matters.

But don't think where the conclusion of the process might lead. No, no, no. Mustn't think that.

Maybe we'll be lucky and some vigilante will just kill Zimmerman. We're progressives. We like vigilantism.

[Beacool]

42. Good for them!!!

I don't get the issue over wearing a hoodie. Who doesn't have one? I wear them all the time in winter (not to go to work, though). I particularly like wearing them while driving because wearing a coat restricts movement. In cold weather areas is rare the person that doesn't own one, even if it's just to exercise.

[MLKJrInspired]

43. Inspiring ... and back to school on Monday

It's inspiring to see & hear about high school students getting involved in activism. I wish I knew more about activism when I was young, besides just our little environmental recycling club.

Having been involved in a lot of activism in grad school and sometimes to the detriment of my studies, we should also remind the students to stay on top of their studies. It's important to strike a balance.