At around 10 pm on Wednesday, December 6, rumors were rapidly spreading. “Walkout protest at Marblehead High School, 12 pm tomorrow,” various posts on social media read. “To stand in solidarity with a minority member(s) being called the N-word on school grounds.”
The response was quick, many students asking if others were participating. Their answers? While some knew immediately that they wanted to participate, many were unsure, citing possible punishment as an excuse. Most were confused. Could you walk back in later? Would it be considered cutting? These questions continued at school on Thursday. In every class, someone had something to say about it, whether it was a rumor about the initial occurrence that sparked the walkout, or their opinion on the whole matter. “It’s not my battle to fight,” some could be heard saying, while others insisted that it was everyone’s battle to fight.
As 12 o’clock approached, the conversation continued. In the last minutes of fourth period, administrators informed teachers that the walkout would be held for ten minutes, and that those who missed class to attend would be considered cutting. Nevertheless, the students’ voices would be heard. At 11:56 am, the bell for 12 pm classes rang, and students attending the rally filtered into the lobby. The sight that greeted them was dramatic.
Students lined the staircase that led from the art wing to the lobby, gazing down on the crowd below. Supporters filled the space, from the doors leading to the outside to the cafeteria. In four minutes it would be 12 o’clock and students could go outside. Until then, they packed together in clusters, discussing the scene. The students were visibly excited, nervous grins on their faces. Many phones were raised as people tried to capture the scene for social media. Others checked the time. “One minute!” someone shouted, and cheers erupted throughout the crowd. Despite the early critics of this event, there looked to be more than 200 students in the lobby, many of whom had not initially planned on attending. In the seconds before 12 pm, students counted down before ultimately rushing out of the building. The walkout had begun.
As people moved towards the island in the front circle, leading protesters, most of whom were people of color, stood atop the stone wall in the middle of the island. Some held up signs proclaiming messages of frustration in the current racial climate at MHS, including, “Ignorance is NOT bliss, MHS,” and “Racism is never justifiable”, while all wore black clothing.
After minutes of cheering, protest leaders took turns talking, speaking on issues including the racial tension they had faced as they grew up in the Marblehead Public School system, as well as the wrongness of using the n-word. One student speaker, senior Kenneth Buford, spoke of his upset with the school, not only regarding their response to these incidents, but their failure to recognize the ongoing intolerant climate of MHS. “We shouldn’t have to wait until 10 pm for an email addressing this,” He said, “We shouldn’t have to wait until a walkout.”
After students finished speaking, the march began. The protest leaders headed toward the field, although it was unclear where their final destination was. Despite this, most students followed them, resolute in this mission of racial and school-wide unity. Students passed the football field, nearing two possible turns, one that would lead off campus, the other that would stay on school property. Except for a few individuals who were likely not there to support the cause, the protesters stayed on campus, following a pathway that would pass the cafeteria before continuing around to the front once more. As students passed by the cafeteria, teachers waved from the windows, cheering on the empowered students. Finally, they rounded the bend, reaching the place where the protest had begun. Students gathered once more, waiting for further instruction from the protest leaders. One protest leader thanked the students for coming out. While they were welcome to go back inside, “We’re going to continue because we’re not done with this.” Many freshman went back to class, fearing potential punishment. Still, approximately 100 students followed the protest leaders on another lap around the school, this one including a detour to the section of Piper Field behind the high school. Ultimately all protesters returned to complete their day of classes.
In the periods afterwards, the students who attended the rally shared the feelings of empowerment that came with participating. “It felt like we were changing the world,” said some.
Organizers Nakyla Washington, Gileeza Goorahal, and Tamelle Platt planned this entire protest within 24 hours, an event that was unique to Marblehead High School. While it is clear that the students are empowered to continue the conversation on racial tension, the administration’s response has yet to come.
But in the coming weeks, the school will propose their solution. The adults will continue to write articles featuring their thoughts. The parents will convey their disappointment in the school. And although this response is fair, their answers are not our answers. Their opinions are not our opinions. Their story is not our story. This is a student movement, a conversation that will only succeed if maintained by its students. This is our school, these are our peers, and we stand with them.