A sit-in protest last Thursday (November 1) at Morton West High School in Illinois has ended disgracefully with 37 students on the expulsion chopping block. For “gross disobedience and mob activity”, it says here. While in the grand scheme of the vile crimes perpetrated by the American State on dissidents, expulsion counts somewhat lower than a spell in sunny Camp X-Ray, this is almost certainly one of the most laughable incidents of repression to have come up in recent years. There’s one of those funny online petitions in their support here. Hat tip to Jim “Shiraz Socialist” Denham for the heads up, who also reproduces this statement:

INTERIM ACTIVIST CALENDAR, Nov. 5, 2007
Of the Hudson Valley Activist Newsletter

ANTIWAR STUDENTS FACE POSSIBLE EXPULSION

BERWYN, IL: Over 30 antiwar protestors at Morton West High School here face
expulsion for a peace demonstration at the school last week.

Some 70 students participated in a sit-in against the Iraq War on All
Saint’s Day, Nov. 1. It began when dozens of students gathered quietly in
the school lunchroom and refused to leave. The administrators and police
became involved immediately and locked down the school for a half hour after
class ended.

Students report that they were promised that there would be no charges
besides cutting classes if they took their protest outside so as not to
disturb the school day. The students complied, and were led to a corner
outside the cafeteria where they sang songs and held signs while classes
resumed.

Despite a police line set up between the protestors and the student body,
many other students joined the demonstration. Organizers say they chose
November first because it is the Christian holy day called the feast of All
Saints and a national day of peace. They wrote a letter and delivered it to
the district school superintendent, Dr. Ben Nowakowski, who was present at
the time, stating the reason for their protest.

The school called the homes of many of the protestors. Those whose parents arrived before the end of school and took their students home, or left before the protest ended at the final bell, received 3-5 days suspension.

All others, an estimated 37 received 10 days suspension and expulsion
papers. Parents report that Nowakowski stated those who are seventeen will
also face police charges.

Parents who are frantically trying to spare their child1s expulsion flooded
the school Friday to file appeals on the matter. So far, Nowakowski has held
firm on the punishments. They are expected to find out the results of the
appeals tomorrow.
–
For messages of support for the students, who were conducting a totally
nonviolent, peaceful protest, superintendent Nowakowski may be reached at
bnowakowski@jsmorton.org, (708) 222-5702. The school principal, a Mr. Lucas,
is at jlucas@west.jsmorton.org (708) 222-5901.