Ohio high school students stage walkout to protest cancellation of Diversity Day

Students walked out of an Ohio high school on Thursday to protest cancellation of its long-running Diversity Day after the school board decreed that the event would no longer happen during school hours, use school resources or be paid for by taxpayers.

The students at Turpin High School, about 10 miles southeast of Cincinnati, were joined by those at nearby Anderson High School, whose counterparts also held a walkout, at 10:25 a.m. on the football field.

About 350 Turpin students walked out at 9:52 a.m. and went next door to Heritage Unitarian Universalist Church, brandishing signs that called for promotion and recognition of diversity in the Forest Hills School District, which is 90% white.

Turpin High School (Google/)

The day is designed to highlight cultural and racial issues for juniors and seniors. It had initially been postponed from March so that parents could review agendas and speakers and sign permission slips, then was canceled entirely after the board’s vote of nonsupport. Attendance is voluntary, and students had spent months preparing, planning activities and lining up speakers.

“At this time, FHSD staff have determined they will not be able to organize an event that meets the newly instituted board expectations before the end of the school year, so it will not be rescheduled for this year,” Forest Hills School District Communications Coordinator Josh Bazan said in a statement obtained by WCPO-TV.

The one board member who abstained said the 4-0 vote’s underpinnings were flawed.

“They gave their reasons,” Leslie Rasmussen told WCPO. “They said it’s full of Critical Race Theory and social justice. And that’s it. They have made this political.”

The district said it was aware of the students’ planned actions.

“The district recognizes and respects the rights of its students to exercise their constitutionally guaranteed rights to assemble peaceably and to express ideas and opinions,” the Forest Hills School District said in a statement. “The first priority for FHSD, at all times, is to provide a safe and secure learning environment for every student and we will continue with our commitment to maintain a high level of safety for students while on campus.”

While they returned to class 10 minutes later, students at both schools held their own diversity day that afternoon, after school ended.

“Diversity Day to me has been one of the best things at Turpin that I have experienced so far,” senior Casey Lupariello told WLWT-TV. “We just talk about the diversity of all kinds, and try to understand the people around us better and ourselves better, and try to get a better world view.”

She told the station that 160 students had been registered to attend the voluntary event.

“I’m sad that I will have to miss it for my senior year,” Lupariello said. “But what I am most worried about is kids in the future not being able to experience this event, because it is extremely important.”