Associated Press
SEATTLE — About 300 students — and some parents — marched through south Seattle Wednesday afternoon to protest what they called inadequate resources for their schools.
At one point, the protesters blocked a busy intersection. Several dozen students ransacked a nearby Rite Aid drug store, a Rite Aid manager said.
Police arrived but no arrests were reported. The majority of the demonstrators were peaceful.
Joining the march were students from Rainier Beach and South Lake Alternative high schools and several elementary schools, including Dunlap and Brighton.
"We have no books, we have no performing arts, we have no band … the only way students get their education is if students have books," said South Lake High student Calista Phair.
Lynn Steinberg of the Seattle School District said the district is "committed to working through whatever problems exist."
But she added, "I think that there’s a more constructive way to express frustration."
The protest took an ugly turn when an estimated 30 students ransacked the Rite Aid.
"It looks by estimating we have $5,000 in damage," said Harold Griffiths, Rite Aid district manager. "They ran through the store, knocking things off shelves, sticking things in their pockets, stealing, basically vandalizing the store."
School administrators said many of the students who left early Wednesday for the protest will not be punished because they had parental permission.
Copyright ©2002 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
