Terra Linda students walk out to protest Kavanaugh, support #MeToo

Marin Independent Journal (CA)

Oct. 12--More than 150 students at Terra Linda High School walked out of class Friday to protest U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation, joining similar protests across the nation since the former U.S. Court of Appeals judge was sworn in to the top court on Oct. 6.

Friday's 10 a.m. walkout, dubbed "KavaNOPE," was followed by a half-hour rally in the grassy area in front of the north San Rafael high school. It featured more than a dozen speakers, most saying that victims of rape, sexual assault and sexual harassment were disrespected by the confirmation process and by the Trump administration.

Kavanaugh was accused by Palo Alto psychology professor Christine Blasey Ford of sexually assaulting her when she and Kavanaugh were in high school. Despite the accusation, Kavanaugh was confirmed after a bruising public hearing and abbreviated FBI investigation. Ford was later mocked by President Trump at a campaign rally, according to video broadcast on national television.

"As a woman, I am disgusted that my government, which I have been taught my whole life is a power in place to protect me and have my best intentions in mind, is allowing and even promoting and condoning this kind of (disrespecting) behavior," said Laurel Taylor, a member of the Terra Linda Activism Club, event organizers.

Club members Ana Ostrovsky and Jason Tighe said women's rights to control their own reproductive health and to be protected from sexual predators were at risk. Although Kavanaugh has denied he aims to overturn the landmark 1973 abortion rights decision Roe vs. Wade, some observers have alleged that Kavanaugh's appointment was designed in part to accomplish that end.

"I fear we will lose our right to choice," said Ostrovsky, a senior. "I fear abortion will become illegal and therefore dangerous."

Tighe, a junior, said he and others in his generation must lead a cultural shift.

"The #MeToo movement is a great first step toward bringing awareness to sexual assault victims," Tighe said. "But the goal cannot end here. We must continue to challenge the misogynistic systems ingrained in our society."

The most emotional moment of the event came when a freshman boy, speaking at the microphone, broke down in tears while talking about assault victims and their pain and suffering. The crowd cheered him on, however, and a senior, Gary Garcia, came forward to offer the teen a fist bump.

Terra Linda Principal Katy Dunlap said she and other school administrators were monitoring the rally but were not obstructing it.

"Students have the right to free speech," Dunlap said. "Our job is to make sure kids are safe."

The Marin walkout comes on the last day of a three-day walkout and strike by law students across the nation to protest Kavanaugh.

Also, on Oct. 5, high school students in Winchester, Virginia staged a walkout.

Those followed last month's massive women's marches and protests in Washington, D.C. and across the nation during the confirmation process organized by the Time'sUp movement.

"Kavanaugh's election to the Supreme Court represents a culmination of the ultra polarization of this country and the ever-dropping status of women," Ostrovsky said Friday. "This is a culmination of fear that my rights -- my equal rights -- as a woman will be slowly stripped away, Supreme Court case, by Supreme Court case, by Supreme Court case."

She and others said the only hope is for young people to get engaged in the political process and vote for candidates who support human rights. They urged their fellow teens to preregister to vote and, once they are 18, to vote in 2020. A voter registration table was set up near the site of Friday's rally.

This is at least the second time this year that Marin students have organized a walkout over national political issues. The first was on March 14, a month after the school shooting in Parkland, Florida. Hundreds of Marin students from elementary school to college joined the national school walkout to protest gun violence.

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