Personally, I think that the school staff did a good job of working with us, supporting our first amendment rights, and letting us organize on our own. They walked the fine line between supporting us and fully excusing us (and therefore partially discrediting our “strike,”) and making it overly difficult for us to express our political beliefs and stand up for our rights. All students who participated in the strike on Friday were aware that their absence would be counted as unexcused and that there would be no other consequences or repercussions other than the absence. I hope that community members and supporters will direct their efforts not towards fighting to get our absence excused, but towards combating the climate crisis that is upon us.

Arla Sutton

Orcas Island High School student