South students participate in district wide Black Lives Matter walkout
Around 10:30 AM today a large group of South students gathered in the commons before leaving the building to attend a rally in Martin Luther King park. Students participating are walking out in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement and with those on trial following a rally and vigil in the Mall of America.
Pre-Walkout
“This walkout is city wide event. There was a big facebook event for across the city, but we needed someone to plan for South’s walkout,” junior and student equity leader Betty Mfalingundi. “So someone approached me to help organize it.”
Mfalingundi posted details about the walking, biking and busing routes on social media as well. “The people who march will meet up with roosevelt students and we’re just going to have short rally [at Martin Luther King Park].”
The difference between this walkout and previous ones led by students in the South community are their concrete goals including alternatives to suspensions, more African American history in classes, and the removal of police officers from schools. “There’s a bit more transparency about our goals because the last [walkout] was just about Black Lives Matter. This one is a bit more student focused.”
10:30 AM
Around 200 South students gathered in the commons to walk out in solidarity with the MOA 11.
10:33 AM
Junior Betty Mfalingundi led students in Black Lives Matter chants as the crowd grew. Principal Ray Aponte provided a megaphone as it began to rain lightly. A member of the Youth Are Here team helped to lead students on foot towards Martin Luther King park.
10:48 AM
Students from Folwell School cheer as South students walk past. Folwell students held their own small rally in the school yard.
11:02 AM
A bus driver on 40th and Bloomington honks and raises a fist in solidarity with student protests.
11:25 AM
Students chanted “Black lives matter” as they crossed a bridge over 35W.
11:30 AM
South students meet up with those form other schools at Martin Luther King, Jr. Park. The Black Lives Matter Minneapolis Organization provided a picnic.
Howdy. My name is Eleanor Noble and I’ve finally made it to my fourth, and gym credits allowing, final year here at good ole South. I’ve spent my high...
![A power outage on Friday May 12 before the start of the school day led many students to leave the building and miss parts of first, second and third hour. “[Staff at the front door] said the power might be on at 11, so [we should] come back to school at 11,” recalled freshman Riley Olson. “A lot of people went back home.” However, Principal Afolabi Runsewe claimed and maintains that students were told to stay in the commons and were never given the option to leave school.](https://www.shsoutherner.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/power-outage-475x356.png)
