BPS Walkout: Students Stage Anti-Trump Rally

BOSTON, MA — Students in Boston staged another walkout Monday, this time leaving their classes and taking to the Common, the State House and City Hall to protest against President-elect Donald Trump.

Mayor Marty Walsh has said he supports the students' right to protest, but has urged them to stay in school.

Participants walked out around 1 p.m., and began gathering on the Boston Common around 2 p.m., with plans to march to the state Capitol, and then to City Hall. More than 800 RSVP'd on Facebook as "attending," while another 1,300 indicated they were interested in attending. As of about 4:15 p.m., Boston Police did not have an available estimate on turnout. The Boston Globe reported the number as "hundreds," including not only K12, but also local college students who walked out.

According to the Facebook event page:

Donald J. Trump will be the next president of the United States and we have the right to protest and stand together against the inexcusable statements he has made about, and the harmful policies he promises to enact against, immigrants, Muslims, black Americans, the disabled, the LGBTQ+ community and women. WALK-OUT on Monday, December 5th to send a loud and clear message to Donald J. Trump and to ensure our local elected officials commit to protecting and uplifting all residents of Massachusetts for the next four years.

Speaking on Boston Herald Radio Monday morning, Walsh urged the students to remain in school.

"I just feel that the students have every right to express themselves and I support that," he said. "I just think that during school hours—right now, this early in the year—I just don’t think it’s needed today. I think they can do it after school. I think there are ways of doing it."

The students' planned action follows numerous protests in Boston following Trump's election, and a march in Cambridge against Harvard University's invitation of Trump adviser Steve Bannon to a conference meant to autopsy the election. Students staged walkouts earlier this summer during the state budget process.

Patch has a brief timeline of events below:

5:30 p.m.

Demonstrators demanding to see the mayor are focused on the question of whether Boston can formally become a sanctuary city, as at least on city official has suggested. In a series of videos posted to Twitter, two aides to the mayor are seen speaking with protesters, promising to pass the message along to Walsh.

5 p.m.

Students outside the mayor's office are chanting "Youth united will never be defeated!"; "I believe that we will win!"; and "If we don't see him, shut it down!" Many are staging an apparent sit-in inside City Hall.

4 p.m.

The protest has reached City Hall.

3:30 p.m.

Students demonstrators are making their way from the steps of the State Capitol to City Hall:

An apparent contingent of the larger group is waiting inside the State House wait (to no avail, it seems) outside Gov. Charlie Baker's office.

The students are hoping to speak to both the mayor and governor regarding their demands, as seen in this list, shared by one participant:

2 p.m.

Students are convening around the Parkman Bandstand, with some chanting, "Youth united will never be defeated," according to reporters on the ground.

Read More:

• Boston Anti-Trump Rally: Thousands Chant 'Not My President!'
• 'Love Still Trumps Hate' Rally Attracts Over 1,000 to Boston Common
• Slideshow: Donald Trump Draws Protesters to Downtown Boston
• Hundreds Protest, While Steve Bannon Opts Out of Harvard Event
• BPS Walkout: Hundreds of Students March on Boston City Hall
• Thousands of Boston Public School Students Stage Walkout, Protest

Photo by @rae_bae_bae. Used with permission.