The Voices of Protest: Interviews from Analy’s Walkout Protest
December 28, 2016
On Monday, November 14th, 2016 at 1:30pm, a walkout was held in front of the main Analy High School building, and in front of other Bay Area high schools, due to the presidential election results on November 8th. The walkout began with students walking out of their classes and heading to the front of the school. After school, some of the protestors headed down Main Street, holding up signs on the corner of Bodega Ave. and S. Main Street. The voices of these passionate student protestors as well as teachers and staff have been recorded below:
“I think that people have the right to demonstrate their opinion, since [the election] is going to change how our country is run, and I think it’s important as young people to demonstrate our voices, no matter the opinion.” -Sarah Condello
“It’s difficult to agree with someone who has such radical ideas.” -Tess Caldwell
“I’m not necessarily against Trump, I’m just here to say that something happened to our country, we need to make the best of the situation and remember to look forward to the future, and remember that we will be able to change it next time.” -Gabby Gilbraith
“I think it’s important that students have their 1st amendment right;, right to free speech and right to free assembly. As administration, our concern is that our students are safe and in class, so we are trying to balance those two things.” -Dr.Kellner, Superintendent of WSCUHSD
“Honesty, I’m not happy with the President-elect. I think he’s racist and I’m disappointed in America.” – Ethan McNamara
“I think this is pointless. What is this going to change?” – Jack Lyon
“I think it’s a positive thing to see students getting involved in the political process, and engaging in the bigger issues of our time, and I don’t detect personally a lot of anger.” -Mr. Carpenter
“I would’ve like to have seen it been more organized and have a more definitive purpose.” -Mrs. Hergenrather
“I think that the protest in general was completely unnecessary, and anything we do isn’t going to change anything.” – Gordon McCallum
“If you’re going to protest, don’t do it on school grounds.” -Anonymous
“I think they have the right to protest, although I think they shouldn’t have done it during 6th and 7th period. I think at lunch or after-school would have just been as effective.” -Dustin Harrison
“It’s happened. It’s no big deal. Calm down. We have checks and balances.” -Anonymous
“Donald Trump is a rampant idiot.”
“I’m homosexual, so I’m against him.”
“His whole campaign was based off of hatred.”
“We shouldn’t have a president that our teachers warn us about.” -Group of Protesters
“Many people today were asking me what the point of the protest was—even people who supported Hillary and didn’t support Trump, and I think that the point is that even though the election is over, even though he is going to be president for the next 4 years, he isn’t going to behighly liked by a majority of people. Hillary did win the popular vote, and those people are going to stand up against him.” -Tara Grismer
