Students at Ossining High School walked out on Wednesday in objection to the
decision to only temporarily hang a canvas Black Lives Matter mural inside the school,
despite petitioning to have the mural painted.
News 12 is told more than 100 students made their way to Main Street holding a
mural made by high school senior
Janah Huss.
Several students petitioned the district’s administration to have the mural
painted, but their decision to instead hang a canvas of the mural has many
upset.
"This school screams equity and everything
and diversity but they can't have this in our school?” questions Huss. "For them to disapprove this, this is what represents
the Black culture, this is the new beginning, this is change.”
Senior student Cruz Vernon tells News 12, "When it comes to action, they don't want to
continue voicing what we believe in.”
The mural is not only a piece of art, but
represents a moment in history that the
students are living through that
they want future generations to remember.
"This mural, knowing it would be
on a wall, it shows that our message is there forever,” says senior
Zinah Ruff.
Superintendent Raymond Sanchez attended the protest to ensure
student voices were heard.
"We want to support the mural and we will
keep up. We provided an option,” says Sanchez.
Although the district supports their students, they say a
permanent mural on school grounds could present a potential legal liability.
However, students highlight other murals across campus and
question the difference.
“We just want to make sure the
length of time that its up is contingent on us and the conversation we have
with our children,” says Sanchez.
Discussions on the matter are still ongoing, and students say they
will not back down.