At 10 A.M. on Wednesday, Nov. 16, about 400 RM students walked out of their third-period classes and congregated in front of the auditorium. They held large, colorful signs that said things like “Stronger Together” and “Love Trumps Hate,” in light of the recent presidential election of Donald J. Trump. They marched down Fleet Street and into Rockville Town Center, guided by the Rockville Police. In front of the courthouse, students gave speeches and chanted slogans which were broadcast by local news channels.
Since November 8, people all over the country have been protesting the results of the election by taking to the streets and social media. However, the movement has surged among high school students here in Montgomery County.
The protests began on Monday, when students at Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring walked down University Boulevard and then towards the Wheaton Mall. Junior Daniel Gelillo was inspired by this and organized the RM “Stronger Together” walkout. “I’ve wanted to do it since after election night. I was really frustrated with the results and wanted a way for people to hear what younger people had to say about the election and about Donald Trump,” he explained. “I heard people around school talking about how they thought we should have [a protest], too. And I knew the time to do it was now.”
Gelillo began the protest by creating a Facebook event. Over 500 people were invited to attend the event on Facebook; however, many people were informed about the event by word of mouth.
After seeing the high level of participation the protest was gathering, Gelillo decided it would be best to consult school administration. He recalled, “I wanted to meet with Mr. Monteleone [on Tuesday] so that he knew what was going on.”
Mr. Monteleone alerted the Rockville Police of the possibility of a protest occurring in an effort to ensure student safety. The Rockville Police then requested to meet with Gelillo to ensure the safety of the protesters. After discussions, they organized several officers to be present to guide students on the designated route.
Many students experienced feelings similar to Gelillo’s frustration and felt the need to voice their opinions. Junior Sara Reilly agreed with the premise of the protest. Reilly explained, “It’s just to show that we’re unified as a school, and that we care and that we support our friends that are people of color, that are gay, that are straight, everybody. I think that it’s just about support and unity.”
However, there was still opposition from many students, teachers, and parents. Many saw no need to protest an unchangeable event and claimed students simply wanted to skip class. However, students made a clear case for the necessity of the protest. Senior Max Moss argued, “Everywhere in America right now, bigoted people feel that they have the right to express their hatred, so it’s really important that, in even liberal areas like this, people stand up, declare publicly that they are in support of minorities, and that they stand with them, and we do not accept Donald Trump as representative of our country.”
The peaceful protest turned violent when protesters began to argue with a RM student who was wearing a “Make America Great Again” Trump campaign hat. The disagreement turned into a physical altercation between students. One allegedly suffered minor injuries. However, local police and the school are investigating the incident.
For the most part, the protest was peaceful. Many students stated that although the altercation occurred, the message of the protest should not be tainted or forgotten due to the actions of few. Junior Hayley Goddard agreed with that sentiment, saying, “Despite the terrible violence that happened, we have to keep going. A protest with that many people can’t be perfect. And if we cease to act through fear of how the media will paint all of us because of the actions of a few, we will be silenced. We can’t let that happen.”
The protests were seen as an overall success by students involved. Since the walkout on Wednesday, MCPS Superintendent Jack Smith has issued a statement saying that protesters, like the one yesterday, “may be subjected to the regular disciplinary actions that align with whatever infraction is involved.” Senior Veeraj Majethia, a strong advocate for the protest, was disheartened by the message. “I was disturbed that the county didn’t even acknowledge the fact that students walking out may have a point about a Trump presidency,” he said. “There must be at least some people the county level that share concerns. Instead of trying to disband protests, why don’t they join them? At least the ones who feel the students are walking out for the right cause.”
Gelillo also finds it troubling that the county is restricting the right to demonstrate, but believes the message conveyed by the protest will continue to inspire. “It’s my hope that the way they felt, what they heard people say, and the unity that we had stays with people for many years to come. This won’t be the last time we come together like this though. I can promise you that. We are stronger together.”
