Even people who can’t legally vote have chosen to share their opinions after Donald Trump’s victory.
On Nov. 9, the day after Trump won the election, students in various East Bay high schools walked out of class in protest of the coming Trump presidency.
Students of Bishop O’Dowd, Albany High, Oakland Tech, and Berkeley High School also staged rallies and protests.
Starting around 8 a.m., Berkeley High School students walked out of class and onto the UC Berkeley campus, where there were opportunities for students to speak their minds.
“They’re angry. They’re crying and they feel unsafe,” said Berkeley High School principal Sam Pasarow.
The protest in Berkeley was organized after a group of seniors realized that Trump would win the presidency. They communicated through social media to get the word out and came to school early to set up tables and make posters.
“We needed to have a safe space for everyone who has been oppressed during Donald Trump’s presidential campaign. We were just trying to figure out what would be best for our student body,” said Berkeley senior Ariana Cruz.
Students at Woodside High School and Sequoia High School also staged walkouts on Nov. 10. In addition, high school students in San Francisco blocked streets near Fisherman’s Warf.
They’re angry. They’re crying and they feel unsafe
— Sam Pasarow
Carlmont, on the other hand, has attempted to keep a more positive environment, hanging up a “take what you need” poster, and showing Looney Tunes in the choir room.
Carlmont junior Rhea Subramanian said, “I think that these walkouts are perfectly justified, but the students need to realize that Trump was democratically elected. I am not a Trump supporter by any means, but the students should focus on protesting his policy rather than protesting the fact that he was elected.”
Many feelings, both good and bad, are present throughout the Bay Area regarding the election. In response, much of the Carlmont community is doing its best to spark meaningful conversation rather than negative feelings.
