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As I walked across the bridge from the second floor of the Home Economics building to the Main building of Jordan High, a young woman whom I had not met before approached me and asked "Are you the teacher who is against the war and into protesting and stuff?" I smiled and said I was. She told me she wanted to do something about the war. After school, she, a few of her friends, and a few students who had been working with me to create a community youth organization, decided to put out a newsletter laying out student's reasons for opposing the war. We invited a speaker from Not in Our Name to meet with us after school, attended a NION meeting and youth protest, met with Rise Up! LA, and did some research. While doing this, these students showed tremendous sensitivity and courage. As disproportionate numbers of soldiers in the war come from poor communities, many of us had friends and relatives fighting in the war. Many of the students and friends are in the campus ROTC. Anti-war students faced open hostility from teachers and other students. In one instance, a student tore up an anti-war poster in class and was applauded by a group of teachers who were standing nearby. Still, these students rose above the intimidation and difficulties to create and distribute the outstanding 12 page pamphlet whose text is reproduced here. - Sean Leys, Jordan High Teacher May 2, 2003 What did children have to say to President Bush before the attack in Iraq was launched? How are their concerns and questions reflected in the war's outcomes? As these young democratic participants call upon the president to hear their concerns, they demonstrate how the constitution insures the rights of citizens to talk back to their government. The authority of these young people lies in the first amendment and the moral power that come with their deep sense of humanity and freedom. AMENDMENT 1 Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peacably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. To read student responses, click here.
Introduction to the Peace Page Los Angeles Students Protest the War on Iraq No Business as Usual at Schools, Work or in the Neighborhoods
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