Students suspended after silent protest at Waterloo High School

Waterloo, New York – Continuing to call for change within the district, on Monday students gathered for an early-morning silent protest in Waterloo.

Students took part in a walk-out in response to an alleged insensitive remark about suicide last week.

According to the district, it’s investigating the alleged remark and continues to work toward building a safe place for all students. Yet those who organized Friday’s walk-out say the district hasn’t done enough.

On Monday, at least two students were reportedly suspended for five days from Waterloo High School.

Despite the district warning them, they would be suspended if they did so, they say they took part in a silent protest inside the school.

According to the district, they sent letters to parents saying the adults faced arrest if they entered school grounds without written permission.

Monday was the fourth straight day some students and parents protested following the alleged insensitive remark.

“I have a lot of emails that have been sent to me about bullying, about what these students have done to try to get it to stop,” said senior Colby Tears, who helped organize recent demonstrations, “and none of these teachers or administrative people are listening.”

According to some parents claim, it’s time for the district to stop talking, and start listening.

Joshua LaMar says he has reached out to the district and the school board but has yet to hear back.

“I’m going to be hopefully speaking at the next board meeting on Wednesday about what’s going on in the schools and how we can all as the community help try to heal and work together because this is the problem,” said LaMar. “There’s no communication, and now the communication is broken even more between these kids and the administration because of the way that they’re reacting and treating the children as if they are common crooks.”

LaMar, however, that he’s been told police would have to arrest him if he went on school grounds. As of midday Monday, no parents were arrested.