Run-Ins at Walkout

On Monday, March 21, students held a walkout in support of victims of sexual assault at New Rochelle High School. The spark was a New Rochelle High School student’s claim that she had allegedly been sexually assaulted off campus by another student when they attended Isaac E. Young Middle School. Her story spread throughout social media for days and inspired other victims of sexual assault to speak up, too. 

According to an email from Superintendent Jonathan Raymond, approximately eight hundred to one thousand students left their classes at 12 pm, during the middle of the 5th period, and gathered on the soccer field and steps in front of the high school. 

Participants stated that they walked because the school is not adequately listening to or taking action in response to students’ concerns about sexual assault. One organizer of the walkout, senior Julia Camoes, explained: “We had a list of demands and speeches ready from victims. We planned to return indoors once the superintendent and principal agreed to a meeting with the organizers.” 

The walkout, however, did not go as planned. Attention was diverted away from the cause as several skirmishes erupted. Throngs of students ran from one fight to the next with their cellphones ready to record. In the chaos, students threw glass and plastic water bottles and balls into the crowd.

Sophomore Amna Rezvi reflected: “I think that some people walked out just to skip class with their friends and did not take it as seriously as they should have.”

Despite the fighting, some organizers, like Camoes, managed to speak to smaller groups of peers. Others led chants for a brief period. Participants on the field cried, “No means no”, “Protect our students”, and “F*** this school.”

Eventually, because of the disorderly turn of events, security had to herd students back into the building, and police came to secure the school. Many protesters feel like the walkout elicited little change. It gained attention from local media, but the message was blurred amongst the chaos. Students hope that this will not deter their movement, and that they will be given more opportunities to make their voices heard in the future.