Raiders Walk Against Racism

Photo by Eric Pereira

This story was originally published in the Sept. 23, 2020 edition of The Northeast Georgian.

BY ERIC PEREIRA

Around 100 Habersham Central High School students voluntarily participated in a school walkout initiative Tuesday morning to speak against racism and inequality.

Students spoke on social injustice, their experiences with prejudice and how everyone needs to strive for the equal treatment of others regardless of their race or ethnic background.

The event comes after a Habersham County Board of Education meeting on Sept. 14 in which the Ninth Grade Academy was questioned for the removal of a “Black Lives Matter” sticker from a faculty member’s file cabinet.

Student and varsity quarterback Josh Pickett spoke to the crowd after a moment of silence. He referred to racism as a pandemic that has plagued humanity for centuries but that it can be controlled.

“If our heart is clear, our thoughts and actions are kind toward others. If it is wicked, our thoughts and actions are evil,” he said. “As Mark 12:31 says, we are commanded to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. My challenge for all of us is to be kind to everyone that we encounter.”

Kayli Bongolan expressed her support for anti-racism, questioned political stickers in vehicles in the parking lot and she alluded to the Black Lives Matter movement.

“The sheer fact that I cannot say the movement by its official title already shows how anti-black our community is.” she said. “Advocating against racism is not a political statement. Kindness and attention towards our black lives is something that should already come naturally and to think that we have to walk out to collectively show our support is comforting yet woeful at the same time.”

She also spoke to how she has experienced prejudice because of her Asian background during the early months of COVID-19 while shopping at a grocery store.

“I got looked into the eye and told ‘Go back to where you came from and take the Chinese virus with you,’” Bongolan said. “The funniest part is I’m not even Chinese. I’m an American just as much as that person is.”

Jose Virgen Oritiz spoke to his experiences growing up as a Hispanic American learning English as a second language. He recalls being mocked for his improper English with snarky comments being thrown at him.

“Growing up in a Hispanic household, it was hard for me to learn the English language as my parents weren’t able to speak it. Moreover, it was hard for me to please my peers who had constantly reminded me of the expectations of learning English and made me feel uncomfortable.”

Duren Chambers closed out the ceremony thanking the faculty, staff and law enforcement helping them host the event. “You should no longer stand by and watch, you should no longer stand by and listen, the only thing you should be is doing,” Chambers said. “You should be doing everything you can to stop racism if you witness it. You should be doing everything you can to stop and educate others. And most importantly you should be doing everything you can to love one another.”

Principal Jonathan Stribling provided a statement about the event, which he said went well.

“Student leaders met with school administration prior to the event to make their intentions known. School administration, working alongside School Resource Officer Sgt. Griggs Wall of the Habersham County Sheriff’s office, executed a plan to ensure the safety and security of all involved,” Principal Jonathan Stribling said. “The HCHS students were compliant and respectful in their manner and had a chance to communicate their message. Classroom instruction continued during and following the event.”