Colorful chalk lined the sidewalk with phrases: “Neutrality is a political statement” “Diversity of opinion is what makes Lab, Lab” and “ICE OUT.” These politically charged phrases, written on 59th Street in front of Blaine Hall on May 1, were part of a student gathering of about 20 students during lunch for a protest organized by students against the school’s new policy on viewpoint-neutral teaching and broader political issues.
While the idea for the protest had been planned about a month in advance, most of the organizing took place in the week leading up to the event. The event, organized by junior Clara Golly and another student, who Clara didn’t name, featured musical performances, including banjo and guitar, performing union folk songs by Pete Seeger. The protest also included two student speeches that connected the policy to broader national and global concerns, including issues affecting LGBTQ+ communities and human rights.
Clara said the initiative for a protest was driven by frustration with both current events in the news and the school’s new policy, which they believe limits students’ ability to discuss those issues in the classroom.
“Seeing what’s been happening in the news recently is really infuriating to me, because it’s just such a violation of human rights, and it’s just injustice, and the fact that we can’t talk about it here at school makes me even more mad,” they said.
Among organizers and protesters, the turnout of around 20 students was stronger than expected with many hearing about it through friends rather than formal announcements. Junior Valkyrie Lawrence, one of the students who gave speeches, emphasized the balance between visibility and simplicity of the protest.
“We did want it to get traction, but the more attention that it gets, the more complicated it becomes,” she said. “This is just a little thing with a bunch of people here and good vibes, and I think that it’s basically right where it wants to be.”
For attendees Miles Wilczak, a senior, attending the protest was aimed mostly toward the neutrality policy.
Miles said, “I think my education here has been built on anti-censorship and say what you think and believe in what you believe, and I think that having teachers specifically not being able to share their direct opinions is a hindrance to mine and everyone else’s education.”
