Students stage ‘Walk-In’ for Jena 6

BOSTON. When a high school in Jena, La., became the center of a racially charged controversy earlier this year, the students at Media Communications Technology High School in West Roxbury felt affected.

But rather than walk out and leave school in a show of protest, as many schools did nationwide, they went another direction.

Yesterday’s “Walk In To A Freedom School,” which featured workshops and a passionate open mic session, gave students there a chance to reflect on the conflicts, rather than run from them.

“People don’t think these things happen anymore, but it could’ve happened here,” said Marcela Dodi, 17, a junior who ran one of the workshops. “It was time to get everyone together.”

Jena drew national attention after six black high school students were charged for an assault on a white student, soon after nooses were hung from a tree on school grounds by white students.

The events triggered nationwide protest, and for students in West Roxbury, an opportunity to debate the issues.

“They wanted to make a splash,” Principal Sunny Pai said. “Why not make a splash extending your education rather than shortening it [with a walk-out]?”

Raps, poems and speeches were delivered after the workshops, many bringing the students to their feet. The issues that pulled students apart in Jena were replaced here with a desire to know a bit more about each other.

“A lot of people think the same way but don’t know how to express it,” said junior Tionna Conley, 16. “People keep too much bottled in.”