The student news site of Carlmont High School in Belmont, California.

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The student news site of Carlmont High School in Belmont, California.

Scot Scoop News

The student news site of Carlmont High School in Belmont, California.

Scot Scoop News

Convenient protesting changes little

While+some+students+participated+in+the+protest%2C++others+saw+it+as+an+easy+way+to+get+out+of+class+because+of+the+lenient+attendance+policy.+
Izzy Mitchell
While some students participated in the protest, others saw it as an easy way to get out of class because of the lenient attendance policy.

“Hate is easy, love takes courage.”

That was one of the many catchy chants thrown out into the crowd during the so-called anti-Trump protest in the quad.

Well, here’s a response to the chant: Pep rallies are easy, effective protests take courage.

The rally was originally publicized on social media as a peaceful protest. However, the students who wanted to participate in it faced the consequence of receiving a cut on their transcript. The “protest” ultimately turned into an “administration-supervised pep rally” complete with music and iconic Scots’ spirit.

Students’ interest in the protest changed throughout the day because they weren’t sure of the attendance policy.

Students who had no interest in going to the rally were emboldened to attend once they heard administration had decided not to give cuts, which meant no consequences were in their way.

This sudden change in heart plays into the idea of protesting only when it’s convenient for the person. It’s easy to send out a tweet detailing one’s disappointment of the election outcome, but the moment there is a consequence for that action, people are quick to shy away from expressing their opinions.

Famous protests throughout history have been linked with acts of civil disobedience, which is what made a lot of them effective. Risking a cut from a class was enough to send most students away from the rally, not wanting to perform even the most minute act of civil disobedience in order to get their opinions heard.

The rally that took place was by no means a failure in promoting unity on the Carlmont campus, it just wasn’t an effective protest.

Another part that plays into the ineffectiveness of the rally is the location. It’s easy to hold an anti-Trump protest at Carlmont, which is a liberal bubble within a bubble in yet another bubble. A few people that might have opposed the protest would not speak up against it because they would represent the minority.

The event in the quad allowed people to support one another, allowed people to share their stories, and reestablished that Carlmont is an accepting campus, but it was not effective because nothing changed.

To try and promote change, people have to leave the bubble, leave their comfort zone and try and make a difference in a place that’s not as progressive as the Bay Area. People have to go to those areas that are scary and red for a person representing a little speck of blue and chant there, protest there, and promote unity there.

Be inconvenient, for that is the only hope for real change.

This editorial reflects the views of the Scot Scoop editorial board. This editorial was written by Megan Tao

About the Contributor
The Scot Scoop Editorial Staff strives to maintain reliable reporting while covering the hard-hitting topics that interest our community. Content on Scot Scoop is managed, reviewed, and maintained by the editorial staff using various tools and methods to produce, edit, and publish content daily. Editorial Staff members are Gabrielle Shore, Myles HuErik ChengAnnabel ChiaAimee TeyssierUrvi KulkarniEvan LeongUjala ChauhanCharlotte GordonAlexander MenchtchikovBen RomanowskyJackson SneeringerArianna ZhuEmma GoldmanElizabeth CruzAudrey Finigan, Rachel Alcazar, and Alessandra Tremulis.

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  • J

    JohnNov 20, 2016 at 9:38 pm

    I believe that the aiding of the protest is what turned it into a rally. Those who were truly there to protest would’ve cut class. Instead, going to the protest was more like giving yourself a sticker saying “good job”. Those who believe in change were diluted by the maybes and the kind-ofs. To truly have a say or make a difference you must be a solid YES!

    Reply
  • A

    AnonNov 18, 2016 at 3:03 pm

    I do think it changed something. While the rally was a liberal event in a liberal school, it helped people realize that there are others out there who care. Without a rally, without a display of comradry in our beliefs, people would be discouraged before they even began to make change outside of school. They might go and think that they are so small and their voice is so little. But a rally like this showed that their voice is backed by others. It may not have shook the world, but if it shook even one persons heart out of apathy or a fear to talk then I think it made a difference.

    Reply
  • V

    VeronicaNov 15, 2016 at 11:38 pm

    I don’t like the part about not wanting to risk cutting class. Are we being shamed for not attending a protest because we cared about our education? Just what I think. Other than that I agree with your point on people taking the opportunity to ditch class rather than to exercise our right to protest and freedom of speech.

    Reply
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Convenient protesting changes little