Video: Arguing for Action – a student-led protest for changes in district policy and against discrimination

By Mason Sajna, Alex Sajna, Preston Hooker, and Katie Murphy

December 4, 2023

The Black Student Solidarity Network hosted a protest at the Center for Academic Achievement at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 30 as a way to show support for a recently-suspended student and advocate for district policy change.

Over 150 students and community members attended the event that BSSN Founder and Lincoln College Prep senior Madison Lyman helped coordinate.

“[BSSN’s] role is to be a facilitator,” Lyman said. “East students told us that they wanted to have a protest on this day, so we gave them tools and advice about how to orchestrate a protest and formulate their demands so that they can create the change they want to see within their district.”

Senior Jax Taylor opened the protest with a speech including talking points about how many Black students don’t feel safe at school, which he believes should be a safe place for students of all races.

“I think we had a lot of support,” Taylor said. “It was really nice to be able to speak on the incidents at East and also to list the demands.”

He hopes that more students will attend the Dec. 4 school board meeting at the CAA to show support, where he and other students who spoke at the protest will be speaking again. They plan to highlight their six demands again including a formal apology from the district, mandatory cultural competency exams for administrators and revision of the zero-tolerance policy.

“I’m looking forward to being able to address the board member’s to their faces,” Taylor said.

More long-form reporting on this event will appear in The Harbinger’s Dec. 18 print issue.

About the Contributors

Mason Sajna, Video Editor

As a fourth year harbinger staffer, senior Mason Sajna is excited to be a leader on staff this year as a Video Editor, Photo Mentor and Equipment Manager. When he isn’t in the J room editing a video or trying to find some tripod piece, Mason is running as a varsity track and cross country runner and is in five AP classes. When things finally slow down, Mason likes to spend his free time with his friends or just hang out at home.

Alex Sajna, Video Editor

Working on his third year on Harbinger staff, senior Alex Sajna is thrilled to lead the video team as a Video Editor and take pictures as a Photographer. Besides Harbinger, Alex runs cross country and track, takes AP classes and works part time. When he’s not in the J-room, you can find Alex working on his car, making up a cross country practice late at night, or hanging out with family and friends.

Preston Hooker, Video Editor

Senior Preston Hooker has participated in Football, Track, Policy Debate and more throughout his four years at Shawnee Mission East. The one thing he’s stuck with is Harbinger. Preston is entering his third and final year on staff as a Video Editor, Advertisement Manager, Copy Editor, Staff Writer and Staff Artist. With a full plate in front of him, Preston is excited to finish strong through his high school career, with additional AP and IB courses, to propel him into a hopeless career in film.

Katie Murphy, Print Editor

As Print Co-Editor-In-Chief, senior Katie Murphy is addicted to distributing fresh issues every other week, even when it means covering her hands — and sometimes clothes — in rubbed-off ink. She keeps an emergency stack of papers from her three years on staff in both her bedroom and car. Between 2 a.m. deadline nights, Katie “plays tennis” and “does math” (code for daydreaming about the perfect story angle and font kerning). Only two things scare her: Oxford commas and the number of Tate’s Disney vacations.