The 10:58 a.m. bell rings, indicating the end of fourth period. Students are rushing to leave their classrooms, whether they are trying to save a lunch table for their friends, going to their next class of the day, or using their off-campus privileges to leave the building.
The hallways are bustling with movement as many upperclassmen are rushing to door 10, where they line up to scan out of the building. However, as the line of students gets longer, a few stragglers are standing to the side. Two of them were carrying signs, looking around the hallway to see if others would be joining them.
On Monday, Jan. 27 during fifth period, four HHS students participated in a walkout to protest against President Trump’s actions and policies this past week.
After President Trump’s inauguration on Monday, Jan. 20, he has taken the initiative to reform the US government through various executive orders. His directives include, but are not limited to, enforcing deportation and border-controlling orders; repealing policies to mitigate climate change; eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion programs; and limiting the identities of the LGBTQ community.
To express disapproval of Trump’s preliminary actions as president, sophomore Tyler Barrus organized this walkout, spreading information through the Instagram account @hhs_students_against_trump. Originally, it was scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 21, but due to the extremely cold temperatures and e-learning day, the protest was moved to Jan. 27.
As the students gathered by the concrete bench, Barrus began the protest with a speech.
“We will fight for democracy, we will fight for justice and accountability,” Barrus said. “We will fight for a future with leadership to solve real problems, not create new ones.”
Barrus is worried about some of the suggestions Trump has made during his first week of presidency.
“I’m concerned against the attempted purchase of the Panama Canal and Greenland sovereign nations,” Barrus said. “Also, the ending of the diversity, inclusion, and equity programs, because there are highly qualified applicants who [get jobs] because of those programs.”
For HHS student Rowan Freeman, his biggest apprehension is Trump’s perspective and treatment of the LGBTQ and other minority communities.
“No matter their gender, sexuality, or color, [people] should be able to have an equal say in things and I hate what [Trump’s] doing to minority groups,” Freeman said.
Freeman is also heavily against the new policy of only recognizing two genders: male and female.
“It completely disregards a lot of the transgender, nonbinary, and all other identities,” Freeman said. “I’m transgender so this is something that affects me directly.”
The students gathered in solidarity, hoping to spread awareness to their peers and find a community within the building that is just as opposed to Trump’s executive decisions.
“I want to help expand our reach as the progressive part of Huntley High School,” sophomore Maximus Valenzuela said. “You have to show up and be [here] to highlight your concerns. Otherwise, no one speaks up.”
Despite the small crowd, these students stood proudly and made their voices heard, utilizing their rights to the First Amendment in hopes of grouping together and potentially starting a bigger movement.
“We are the generation that will inherit the consequences of [the Trump Administration’s] decisions and we refuse to sit quietly,” Barrus said. “We hold the future in our hands and we are just getting started.”