Lessons in democracy: Students cut class to protest
THIRD STREET — Santa Monica students who oppose President Bush, and fearful they could soon be drafted into military service, walked out of their classrooms on Wednesday to protest on the Promenade.
The 250-person demonstration, organized by a group called The World Can’t Wait, began at noon on the corners of Third Street and Wilshire Boulevard. More than nine simultaneous demonstrations were staged along the Wilshire corridor, according to organizers.
Carrying signs that brandished messages such as “No more Lives for Lies” and “No WMDs,” the protesters — many of them Santa Monica High School students — marched from the campus, located south of the Interstate 10 Freeway, to their permitted protest site on Third Street.
By 12:51 p.m., Rage Against the Machine’s “Killing in the Name” was being blasted from a loudspeaker as protesters, shouting and cheering, took turns crossing Wilshire while waving signs.
Several passing motorists honked their car horns in support.
Meanwhile, a dozen Santa Monica police officers, some on foot and others on motorcycles, kept an eye from the sidelines to ensure vehicular traffic stayed clear of students.
Among those in the crowd were Santa Monica parents, who said they withdrew their children from class to participate in the demonstration.
“I want there to be a world for my son to grow up in,” said Santa Monica resident Michelle Sutter, whose son is a middle school student. “My father was a lifelong Republican, but wouldn’t vote for the party after the first Iraq war, because he said all they care about is getting rich and getting their friends rich.”
“For a while, we suspected there were dark forces in the White House, and now we know there are.”
“For a while, we suspected there were dark forces in the White House, and now we know there are.” — — MICHELLE SUTTER Santa Monica resident
Fanny Ballantine, a Samohi freshman with two homosexual fathers, decided to participate in the demonstration because she is against the occupations of Afghanistan and Iraq. She also considers Bush to be anti-gay.
Ballantine — who said she avoided afternoon classes to march with her fellow students — will likely have to make up for her truancy by attending school on Saturday, but she said she doesn’t mind.
“There are consequences for what you do, but that’s all right, if what you do is something you believe in,” Ballantine said.
“Besides, a Saturday in school won’t be so bad with this crowd.”
Michael D. Matthews, assistant schools superintendent, said the purpose of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District is to educate students. As such, the district doesn’t condone truancy.
Matthews said the district has a policy which allows parents to excuse their students, if requested. Making such a request prevents disciplinary action against the student, Matthews said.
However, students who leave campus without a parental request could be subject to disciplinary action, depending on the school’s policies, Matthews explained. Such disciplinary action could include an in-school suspension.
“When I used to be the principal at Malibu High School, I used to tell students how much (protesting) is worth it to them and base their decision on that,” Matthews said.
According to The World Can’t Wait’s Web site, demonstrations on Wednesday were planned in cities across the country, including Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco.
Ken Lisaius, a White House spokesman, said the White House press office was quiet on Wednesday, and he wasn’t aware of many demonstrations that had taken place.
Lisaius said the ability to express views publicly was an American right which probably wouldn’t be the case if the terrorist agenda dominated world leadership.
“The president understands and believes the right to peaceful protest and making one’s opinion known in a democracy that is not available to some societies, such as Afghanistan when the Taliban was in control,” Lisaius said.
However, Lisaius warned that just because there are some whose views differ from President Bush, the fact remains terrorists are arbitrary in how they choose their victims and target those regardless of their political position.
“The images of suffering we see on the news are random acts by terrorists simply because someone walked in the wrong building,” Lisaius said. “The enemy we face are cold-hearted killers who choose their victims indiscriminately and operate on a set of beliefs and goals that are evil.”
In regards to a future draft, Lisaius said President Bush was against such a mandate.
“He has spoken extensively about the draft and his support of the fact that we have an all-volunteer military,” Lisaius said.
Santa Monica resident Felicia Prather, who was walking westbound on Wilshire Boulevard during the demonstration, said she is glad the teenagers skipped class for a day for a cause they believe in.
“I say everything in moderation,” Prather said. “I think it’s good to see the younger generation is becoming active.
“I’d rather see another ’60s revolution than World War III, which I think could happen if they don’t start speaking up.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 3, 2005. Read the original PDF.