Student Walkout Aims for Change

The effectiveness of marches, walkouts and protests is disputed but change seems on the horizon in the aftermath of PHS’s March for Our Lives.

Following the song, speech and silence, students were encouraged by march organizer and senior Brooklyn Garrett to “go register and vote.” The organization Indivisible Puyallup was there to respond to the call.

A member of the group, Joe Colombo, explained the ideology behind the organization.

“We are a local chapter of the larger national Indivisible movement, [which] was spawned by progressives in response to Trump being elected president,” Colombo said. “We are dedicated to protecting our nation’s values and principles through political action.”

Different members of Indivisible Puyallup greeted marchers as they left the rotary stage, offering registration forms to anyone over 17. Colombo sees the march as an important step toward engaging youth in politics and a promising sign for the future.

I think protest can be very positive for the community.

— Joe Colombo

“I think protest can be very positive for the community,” Colombo said. “After all, our great nation was founded on a protest when they threw the tea over the boat. So this can be an action for positive change and it is a great way to focus energy, to get people mobilized and motivate. It shows that we are willing to stand up for things.”