Concerns about security threats aren’t uncommon around Washington, D.C., but, when a busload of high school students traveling from Newark appear to be the source, things get interesting.
Newark Superintendent Cami Anderson was scheduled to speak about education reform in urban school districts in the 21st century Thursday. But before the event started, American Enterprise Institute’s Media Relations Associate Meg Cahill pulled the plug. She told an audience of about 150 that the event would be cancelled and live-streamed from an undisclosed location.
Students traveling with New Jersey’s Communities United, a grassroots organization aiming to strengthen the power of low income and minority residents, began to stand and declare their concerns.
“No one from the district dares tell anyone from the community, organizations or teachers what’s going on,” said Tiana Williams, a high school junior. “We’re not going to just sit here and take it. What if I don’t graduate because of what’s going on in our schools?”
Anderson’s office released a statement, stating, in part, “Developments at the time of today’s event required changes in logistics.”