Chicago students protest lack of time for COVID safety

[diehardblue]

https://abc7chicago.com/cps-student-protest-chicago-public-schools-news-headquarters/11471357/

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Hundreds of Chicago Public Schools students aren't happy about the return to schools and walked out in protest Friday.

The students feel like their voices were not heard in discussions over COVID safety measures.
At 12:30 p.m. Friday, students from at least 20 CPS schools walked out of school in protest over the return to in-person learning and headed to CPS headquarters in the Loop.

The massive group blocked off the entrance of the CPS headquarters, making their voices heard and pleading to be included in talks when it comes to their safety.


"We have a voice and it matters!" said Andrea Cespedes, a junior at Lindblom Math & Science Academy. "That's what we're here for, so that CPS can hear our voices."

Catlyn Savado, a Julian High School freshman and organizer of the group CPS Radical Youth Alliance, led the charge. Students from CPS schools across the city, including at Curie and Solorio Academy high schools, joined the effort.

"I think it shows a multitude of things," Savado said. "I think, specifically, it shows that young people, specifically our Black and brown young people in Chicago, have not been considered, our humanity hasn't been considered for a very, very long time."