Salem-area high school students stage walkout in support of Palestinians

Tracy Loew, Salem Statesman Journal
·2 min read
4
Students from North Salem High School left school Wednesday and marched to the Oregon State Capitol in support of Palestinians. The walkout coincided with International Workers Day, which highlighted support for housing for all, a pathway to citizenship for undocumented workers, fully funded public schools, union rights for every worker and a cease-fire in Gaza.

About two dozen South Salem High School students walked out of school Wednesday in support of Palestinians.

Along with students from other area high schools, they joined the annual International Workers’ Day rally at the Oregon Capitol in downtown Salem.

Sophomore Parker Morgan, 16, said he chose to leave classes because “it makes me angry and upset. There are too many people quiet in this school about too many things.”

“I think what is going on is very wrong,” said sophomore Ivan Tovar. “America has freedom of speech. If someone wants to support" Palestinians instead of Israelis "they should be able to do that.”

Dayton Boatman holds up his skateboard with a message in support of Palestinians.
Dayton Boatman holds up his skateboard with a message in support of Palestinians.

The high school walkout was organized by Latinos Unidos Siempre, a youth-led group. Efforts to reach LUS leaders were unsuccessful.

“It’s a pretty blatantly unjust thing. It’s murder. It’s genocide,” sophomore Jessi Soliz, 16, said. Soliz said he believes youth have an obligation to speak out.

“Morally unjust things should be protested against,” he said. “Adults can get in trouble, can get fired. What are they going to do to me?”

Students from North Salem High School march toward the Oregon State Capitol.
Students from North Salem High School march toward the Oregon State Capitol.

Several of the South Salem students said they had received permission to miss class and planned to return after their lunch break.

The International Workers’ Day rally included speeches, resource booths and a march around the Capitol block. This year it highlighted housing for all, a pathway to citizenship for undocumented workers, fully funded public schools, union rights for every worker and a cease-fire in Gaza.

Students from North Salem High School march in support of Palestinians.
Students from North Salem High School march in support of Palestinians.

Salem-Keizer School District officials could not immediately say how many students had missed classes Wednesday afternoon.

The district previously said that while students are allowed to exercise their freedom of speech, students who left campus or did not return to class would receive unexcused absences.

Tracy Loew covers education at the Statesman Journal. Send comments, questions and tips: tloew@statesmanjournal.com or 503-399-6779. Follow her on Twitter at @Tracy_Loew

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Salem high school students stage pro-Palestinian walkout