Latest / Kendall County News - Shaw Local / Oswego East H. S. students walk out of school Friday to protest actions of ICE agents
Transcript
- 0:05Speaker 1: Oswego e STHs students walk out of school Friday to
- 0:08protest actions of ICE agents. Written by Eric Shelkoff, this
- 0:17article is being read by an automated voice brought to
- 0:19you by Everlett. Oswego eas High School freshman Olivia Benitez
- 0:25believes that anybody should be able to live in America freely.
- 0:29To fight for that right, she organized a student walkout
- 0:33on Friday against the actions of immigrant and Custom enforcement agents.
- 0:37Oswego High School students had stage to walk out on
- 0:40February sixth. Although she isn't old enough to vote yet,
- 0:44Benitez knows the importance of voting and is dismayed by
- 0:47the actions of the current administration. I think it is
- 0:51really important who you vote to be in office, she said.
- 0:53If you look at how our country has been affected
- 0:55in such a negative way by Trump being in office,
- 0:58I would say that yes, I would rather have other
- 1:00people in office because of how negatively this is affecting
- 1:03the United States. The walkout ended in the parking lot
- 1:07of the Walmart superstore on US Route thirty four in Oswego,
- 1:11which was about a forty five minute walk for students
- 1:16to ensure a safe environment for everyone. The Oswego Police
- 1:20Department temporarily closed Wolf Road from Fifth Street to Harvey Road.
- 1:25In addition, the police department set up a separate area
- 1:28in the Walmart parking lot for the students to gather
- 1:30to avoid any conflicts with vehicles. Today's demonstration concluded at
- 1:35approximately two pm. The department set in a Facebook post
- 1:39we appreciate those who exercise their rights peacefully and safely.
- 1:42No incidents were reported, and we thanked the community for
- 1:45its patients during temporary traffic impacts. Ahead of last week's
- 1:50Oswego High School walk out, Oswego School District three zero
- 1:53eight Superintendent andolic Calgati said in a message on the
- 1:55district's website that the district respects and acknowledges the First
- 1:59Amendment rights of student to express their views and is
- 2:01committed to fostering student voice and advocacy. However, it is
- 2:06important for students and families to understand that any time
- 2:08a student is absent from class, standard school attendance policies apply.
- 2:12He said. Students who leave school for a walkout will
- 2:15be considered unexcused, and appropriate consequences may follow in accordance
- 2:18with student rights and responsibilities. Five. If students leave campus
- 2:24and later return, they must re enter through the main
- 2:27entrance and complete check in procedures before accessing the building.
- 2:31Kilgati said, we encourage families to speak with their students
- 2:35about exercising their voice and advocating for what they believe in,
- 2:38while doing so safely and making responsible choices, he said.
- 2:41In the post, Benita said she knew the consequences of
- 2:45her actions. I'm willing to do anything to fight for
- 2:49the rights of people that deserve to be free, she said.
- 2:52The Constitution says that we're supposed to be free. I'm
- 2:54willing to skip class or do whatever I need to
- 2:56fight for the rights of people that deserve to be here.