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Today at Noon, on March 20th 2003, 76 or more Columbus
Alternative High School students stood up for what
they believed in. Inspired by Anti-Flag, The Clash,
Henry David Thoreau, Thomas Paine and their own
beliefs they walked out. United from different social
groups, different races, different everything! They
called the Media, and it seemed to be a pretty good
turn out. It all begun with a few Amnesty
International meetings at the school and wound up
making high school history. The protest was to
coincide with the national International Answer
Walkout at 12:00 PM. The leaders of this cause,
despite strong discouragement by their principal led
the walkout peacefully and silently. They knew the
consequences and were willing to face them. All in the
name of freedom, peace and unity. The students
gathered in the school's courtyard and proceeded to
the front lawn of the school, for the sake of thought
that it may "disrupt" the fellow student's learning
environment. They stood out there playing Jimi
Hendrix, Bob Marley, Tupac Shakur, Bob Dylan, and
many other peaceful musicians' works. They carried
signs, made tee shirts and put the peace sign up every
time a car would pass. In a seemingly Republican
neighborhood, 99.5% of the people that passes were in
support of the students. As for the administration, it
was grim. The principal attempted to herd the
student's back into the school and threatened
disciplinary action against them. They kept standing.
Eventually, a neighbor across the street called the
police and they arrived. At first they threatened
(the law enforcement) to arrest us all, so some left.
It became a siege of 26 people against 3 cops, and the
school's head figures. The police kept threatening,
the students continued. Some were fearful, others more
willing to stay to make their point. The point seemed
well taken. The protest ended, as promised at 1:06 P.M
and the students returned to the building. One that
stayed behind was arrested. (We are still not sure as
to why, he commited NO CRIME) But that's the law. When
the students entered the building they were met with
respect and support of their fellow peers. They do not
know what their punishment will be as far as the
school is concerned but it will be thought of as a day
when they made a honorable stand for the anti war
protest. Some students continued their protesting by
going to the 9:00 PM Federal Building Protest. All in
all, like American Revolutionaries, these students
tried and maybe did make an impact on society and let
the world, or the community know that they will not
stand for an unjust, illegal war!