Rallying for Trayvon Martin is fighting for justice, not ‘skipping school’

To whom it may concern,

Mt.-Zion-High-School-students-‘I-am-Trayvon’-mass-march-Atlanta-032612-by-Aspen-Evans-web, Rallying for Trayvon Martin is fighting for justice, not ‘skipping school’, News & Views My name is Aspen Evans. I am senior class secretary, Elite Scholars Program secretary and honor graduate for the class of 2012. I am writing this letter to signify that I take full responsibility for my actions pertaining to walking out of class on Monday, March 26, 2012.

I understand that as an administrator I can be punished for “skipping school.” I would like for it to be on the record that I am extraordinarily gifted student who has had no prior disciplinary infractions on my record.

My participation in today’s march and rally for Trayvon Martin was due to my need to participate in a cause that directly affects students in my age group at this school. What if that was one of Mt. Zion’s own students? Would you feel differently?

Mt. Zion has felt the loss of students before and we are tired of the lack of concern for it. I feel that many of the students who participated in this rally as well felt the same. I agree that there were many students who used this protest as a means to dismiss themselves from class, but I urge you to not punish the whole movement that we tried to carry on at 2:12 p.m. for a group of free-riders.

We learn about those who fought for injustice during the Civil Rights Movement and we publicly glorify them every February and MLK Day. Why is what we did Monday any different? We simply used the civil disobedience methods of the ‘60s that the public schools are always drilling into our heads every Black History Month and brought them to our 21st century agenda.

We learn about those who fought for injustice during the Civil Rights Movement and we publicly glorify them every February and MLK Day. Why is what we did Monday any different?

What you witnessed yesterday was a student-led movement that surpassed my expectations in effectiveness. We assembled as a student body for a cause without any confrontations for the most part. You cannot say that about most of the pep rallies and assemblies that we have had in the past.

I would like it to be known that just because we are minors does not mean we are exempt from the First Amendment free speech right to “peaceably assemble,” which is exactly what we did. I understand that we disregarded the announcement to save this for a later date, but I feel as though that later date would never come and that fire that we saw in students today would have not flickered as bright.

Just because we are minors does not mean we are exempt from the First Amendment free speech right to “peaceably assemble,” which is exactly what we did.

I am proud of the students who brought it to the administration’s attention about what we were planning. I do agree that a little more planning should have been in order, such as the rally at Clayton State University, but when is the time ever right to show our distaste for injustice?

In conclusion, as you deliberate on the actions you will take to handle this widespread “insubordination,” I ask you to keep in mind for myself as well as others who participated: We were just fighting for what was right. We may not have done it on proper terms, but our mission was accomplished and I am proud of Mt. Zion High School for Monday’s feat.

Aspen-Evans, Rallying for Trayvon Martin is fighting for justice, not ‘skipping school’, News & Views Sincerely,

Aspen Cierra Evans, Secretary of Mt. Zion High School’s Class of 2012

Aspen Evans can be reached at aevans2012@hotmail.com. Mt. Zion High School is in Jonesboro, Ga., right outside of Atlanta. Fox 5 in Atlanta reports on March 26: “Local college students and civil rights activists are among those taking part in an ‘I Am Trayvon’ rally and march at the Georgia state capitol. … Hundreds of students walked out of Mount Zion High School just after 2 p.m. on Monday in a show of solidarity. Police were called in to contain the crowd as protestors spilled out onto busy Mount Zion Road in Jonesboro.”

Hundreds Support Trayvon Martin at Georgia Capitol Rally: MyFoxATLANTA.com