The protest was held on the streets of 14th, and Plum continued to the end of the school day. Organizers Dean Cook and Liam Spencer both commented on how they believed that the protest was held peacefully and responsibly. Protesters voiced gripes about staff member Jesse McCann. They alleged wrongdoings and misconduct against him, citing what they have heard from around the school. It is important to note that there is no official release connecting any child abuse investigation to McCann.
Before the protest, Spencer sent an email to multiple students encouraging them to attend. An email was sent out by the school to parents stating that the students do have the constitutional right to protest and that the district would make an attempt to facilitate that appropriately. Spencer said, “In general, this was to ensure students’ safety and the future because kids want to feel safe at school. School is supposed to be safe, and you want to feel protected.”
Continued media coverage was present at the protest, which boasted upward of twenty members throughout the school day. Two Atlantic Police Department patrol cars were kept on standby around the protesters’ camp. Blankets and lawn chairs had been set up by the students. Community members voiced their support from afar, with some driving by honking and others taking the fliers that protest organizer Spencer created for the event. Cook said, “We’ve been getting a lot of public approval.”
The fliers were created by Spencer and Cook. AHS Journalist Knox McCalla was thanked on the front of them. McCalla has been pulled from coverage relating to McCann in the interest of maintaining journalistic non-bias and integrity. The fliers distribute allegations that have been prevalent, however unproven. Copies were given to members of the community to distribute at local businesses, though it is unknown whether that has been carried out at this moment. While non-participating students did raise concerns, Cook said that so far the protest has “never gone anywhere but peaceful.” Police presence was maintained for the entirety of the event to ensure accordance with peaceful intentions, however. No disruptions aside from absenteeism have been alleged against the students.
The protesters, according to Cook and Spencer, intended to maintain their post until a “representative from the school” came to hear them. While this message was received by the ACSD administration, no such representative was sent. Protesters said they emailed Superintendent Beth Johnsen to ask her to hear their concerns. So far, no response has been confirmed, and no representative has been sent by the district.
The protest disbanded around 3:15 pm with the end of the school day. Multiple members stayed longer to wave signs at those leaving the school parking lot. Spencer says he plans to attend the Feb. 11 school board meeting to try to speak with a school representative again. “We will be there,” said Cook.
It is unknown at the moment if any disciplinary action has been taken against the protesters. One organizer reported being marked absent unexcused for four classes. The protest covered six academic periods.
