students face expulsion for antiwar sit in

[medeak]

Sunday, November 04 2007 @ 06:48 PM PST
Illinois High School Students Face Expulsion Following Antiwar Sit-In
Sunday, November 04 2007 @ 06:49 AM PST
Contributed by: Anonymous
Views: 271
Over 70 students participated in a sit-in against the Iraq War on All Saint's Day, Thursday, November 1st. It began third hour when dozens of students gathered quietly in the lunchroom at Morton West High School and refused to leave. The administrators and police became involved immediately and locked down the school for a half hour after class ended. Students report that they were promised that there would be no charges besides cutting classes if they took their protest outside so as not to disturb the school day. The students complied, and were led to a corner outside the cafeteria where they sang songs and held signs while classes resumed.

Over 30 anti-war protestors at Morton West High School in Berwyn face expulsion for a demonstration at the school on Thursday.

Scores of Students Face Expulsion Due to Sit-in

for letters and phone calls of support go here:

http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=20071104064903495

[valerief]

1. Now they know who NOT to believe anymore. nt

[tritsofme]

2. Very poorly written and confusing write-up

That leaves many questions.

Were there two protests, one that was sanctioned outside of school grounds and another inside the building on school property?

Exactly what criminal charges do the 17 year old+ students face?

Were the students aware of the consequences? If so, my sympathies for them diminish.

[lligrd]

5. You Approve Of Expulsion For A Peaceful Protest??

The punishment is much to severe and expelling high school students doesn't serve either the students or the community well.

[tritsofme]

9. I don't believe that protests or civil disobedience should act as a get out of jail free card

I don't know the ins and outs of this story, but if similar unsanctioned disruption for any other purpose would result in the same punishment I don't see how a special exception could be made in this case.

Actions can have negative consequences, even noble ones.

[DeSwiss]

10. Unsanctioned disruption???

Congratulations!!!

You have been Pre-Approved to use the First Amendment!!!

[tritsofme]

11. Fortunately for the school board

The First Amendment does not give you a license to disrupt the school day.

[The Wielding Truth]

3. It is so great to see them trying.

:bounce: :kick: :applause:

[Mojorabbit]

4. It is telling

that we did this in junior high with no consequences in the day. Times have changed.

[AuntPatsy]

12. Well that is not really accurate, we had one when I was a freshman a hundred years ago

well maybe not that long ago but the early seventies, the police were called and one young boy actually got beaten by the police with those batons because he refused to stand up and walk out of the building ...it was pretty crazy, my first sit in and one that I and another friend initiated, wow, not something many know, I was youthful and it was about a dress code being changed believe it or not and I printed leaflets about the event at the school in one of those old blue smelly printers, remember them?, I had the time and place and reasons why typed up and handed them out myself, never did get in trouble personally but I always felt bad about that young boy and never initiated such an event ever again..

Hmmmm, I never did figure out how I was not found out but if I recall correctly they didn't even care who started it they just wanted it stopped and I don't recall them asking any questions after the event and to be honest I said not a word, they just told us to get back to class which we didn't, until the police were called in in full uniform and with weapons being branded and they had bullet proof vests on as well.

What was pretty interesting though is how many students actually left classes and showed up in the big hall at the appointed time, it was completely full of students chanting "Hell no we won't GO", I was surprised, and just so you know, the dress code was never messed with until some years after I graduated school, interesting times but even those if you recall protesting the Nam war in colleges were jailed and beaten...

My point being all some need is a leader sometimes to direct them, if you call and they care enough about a certain issue being protested then they will follow but don't doubt that sometimes violence can occur because it has in the past, so don't instigate something without knowing that such is possible and be ready to take responsibility by letting everyone know of such possibilities.

My point being that this is not a first that schools tried to stop protests though no one was expelled for longer than the rest of the day...

[lvx35]

6. "...when a student reported hearing that another student had a gun on campus"

So the call for peace is about more than the war even. Gee, I wonder where that kid who brought a gun to school got the idea that peace isn't the answer to his problems...

[zbdent]

15. bet the student who "heard" that a kid had a gun on campus

was the Pres of the Young Republican Home Soldiers For the War on Terror club ...

[rockymountaindem]

7. This is why nobody protests things

Because for one little peaceful protest you can have your whole life thrown off track.

[medeak]

13. just recall the paranoia

in 1972 at peace march and we were all certain our photos were being taken...

[rockymountaindem]

14. I wasn't around back then

but having your photo taken is one thing. Being kicked out of school the year before you have to apply to college would be a nightmare.

[Bitwit1234]

8. Boy just think of all the kids who would have been roaming the streets

back in the 50's when they had those sit in's.