New York City high school students dominated a demonstration Monday reacting to last week’s decision in Ferguson, Mo. not to indict the police officer who killed unarmed teen Michael Brown last summer. One of them, Shana Buckstad, above, hit some rough waters to get to the march, which began in Union Square.
Buckstad, 17, a student organizer at Governors Island’s New York Harbor School, said Principal Kim Swanson told her that she would be held responsible if other students walked out of classes.
She said 167 students went to the island’s ferry terminal at about noon, but were given seats only after a half-hour sit-in.
“We sat there on the ground with our hands up and said: ‘Hands up! Don’t shoot!’ and then we were ready and we got on,” said Buckstad.
Swanson declined to comment, referring questions to the city Dept. of Education, which also did not comment.
Two days after the march, the officer in the Staten Island killing of Eric Garner was not indicted, trigggering even larger protests. More protesters were expected to gather in Foley Square Dec. 4.
— ZACH WILLIAMS with JOSH ROGERS
