More than a month since a protest against anti-LGBTQ bullying, Hacienda La Puente Unified School District has shown again their lack of protection of students’ well-being in schools.
On Nov. 17 at Los Altos High School, the first of three protests were organized by two students Leilanie Jerez, 11th grade, and Ashley Toscano, 12th grade. It was called in response to a sexual assault after an anonymous confessions social media account created by Los Altos students revealed sexual assault stories.
Although very few students participated in the first day of protest, it quickly gained momentum for the next two days and the protest multiplied in attendance. Another student, Mariah Gutierrez, 11th grade, helped get the word out to school administration the sexual assault victims grievances and demands. Gutierrez spoke about the importance of getting involved: “I previously went to Wilson High School before attending Los Altos, and at Wilson I was sexually assaulted, so when I saw what was happening here at Los Altos I knew I had to help.”
On the third day at the peak of the protests, over 60 students, including teachers and staff, stood in solidarity with the survivors. In an act of disobedience, the protestors stayed in the quad area 15 minutes past the lunch bell, making a statement that they will not allow this issue to be swept under the rug. Shirley, a Los Altos student, shared their reasons for participating with Liberation News: “This issue isn’t something that has occurred to only one person. It has happened to many more people, with the majority being women. People coming out about their own experiences have often been dismissed and the perpetrators aren’t held accountable for their actions and get away with it.”
However, Shirley explained, students protesting also faced criticism from other students. For instance, they explained that some students threw objects at the peaceful protesters. “[This] angers me especially because the protest is against sexual assault and rape culture,” Shirley said.
Another survivor and a lead organizer of the protest, Leilani, shared the criticism she received for speaking up about her experience. She said, “A male student from the basketball team got mad at me asking, ‘Why did I handle it that way.’ In the confessions account, it was revealed that one guy assaulted 20 other people. Other guys were put on blast. I’m not [going to] be afraid to speak up because sexual assault victims are just tired of the way we have been treated.”
For next steps to address sexual assault and rape culture at Los Altos, Gutierrez told Liberation News, “Most of the students don’t understand how the language has affected victims. The victims have always been scrutinized more than the perpetrators. It messed with my education a lot. I’m creating a meeting with assistance from a school administrator to teach students about rape culture and consent.”
As a follow-up question the students were asked if their solution should be replicated in other schools and to society at large. Leilanie shared: “I think if you start teaching it from a young age then it will make a big difference. Parents need to have talks with their children. When you’re young you learn what’s right and wrong.” Gutierrez continued, “I came across an article from Harvard about consent. If you don’t feel comfortable you don’t have to do it. If you learn that stuff from a young age, it would be better. Helps make you feel comfortable in your own body.”
HLPUSD public response to these protests has so far been silence. Their silence is no surprise given that educational institutions indoctrinate youth with the ideology of the state that represents patriarchy and at the current moment is attacking women’s reproductive rights in Texas and other states like Mississippi.
“A lot of the times the students who are homophobic are also sexist,” said Gutierrez. Referring back to the recent protests against anti-LGBTQ bullying, Leilanie connected the two struggles saying, “Students who are trans also have problems — students discriminating against them. People are who they are. I’ve seen very few teachers who talk about LGBTQ issues. It’s mostly from LGBTQ teachers who have taught students the right way to treat minorities.”
