Dozens of students at Mark Morris High School in Longview, Wash., staged a walkout Monday morning in protest of the school's handling of an alleged locker room assault.
This, despite fears that the student-athletes who allegedly perpetrated the assault on a student might retaliate against the protestors.
"A lot of the people here are scared to speak up because the people who, the perpetrators, have been going to our videos and telling us that we need to stop and that we will be next if we continue speaking up," a Mark Morris senior told ABC affiliate KATU in Portland during the protest outside of campus on Monday.
As reported by KATU, Mark Morris High School principal Aaron Whitright sent a letter to parents over the weekend addressing several social media posts about what he called “false rumors and speculation.”
“Last week, we had some students report behavior that violated our school expectations,” Whitright said in the letter. “In partnership with the district office, we have done a thorough investigation, given appropriate consequences, and followed WIAA guidelines. We have worked closely with the students and families involved.”
The Longview Police Department told KATU that no one had made a criminal complaint as of Monday.
“The Longview Police Department has reached out to district officials to coordinate and ensure we are prepared to initiate an investigation if requested or, based on information known to the school or presented by involved parties, police involvement otherwise becomes appropriate,” Longview police told to KATU.
On Sunday, a day after the principal's letter, Longview Public Schools superintendent Karen Cloninger sent out a second letter saying the district was responding to a possible threat on social media directed at the school. That threat is being investigated by Longview PD.
Here are both letters, as presented by KATU.
Sent Saturday, Feb. 7:
Mark Morris Families,
I apologize for interrupting your weekend. Although it is not our practice to publicly address false social media rumors or issues around specific incidents of student discipline, due to the nature of rumors circulating and the degree of harm that the false rumors are creating, it is imperative that I provide reassurance to our families.
As the principal at Mark Morris, safety and well-being of students and staff is the most important work I do. Staff are mandatory reporters and consult with law enforcement on a regular basis. Staff follow strict discipline guidelines and state laws in addition to adhering to WIAA guidelines when student athletes are involved in disciplinary issues.
Last week, we had some students report behavior that violated our school expectations. In partnership with the district office, we have done a thorough investigation, given appropriate consequences, and followed WIAA guidelines. We have worked closely with the students and families involved.
The false rumors and speculation of what occurred are harmful to our students and undermine the feeling of safety in our school. The rumors are upsetting to all, and they may unintentionally traumatize students.
On Monday, we will be supporting students with any questions about safety and providing reassurance about procedures. Our counseling and support teams are available to support students with the emotional strain of this situation.
Thank you in advance for reassuring your students that Mark Morris is a safe place. We care about your students' safety.
Thank you for your support.
Aaron Whitright
Mark Morris High School Principal
Sent Sunday, Feb. 8:
Dear Mark Morris Families,
The district was made aware this evening, Sunday, February 8, of a social media post that referenced a possible threat toward Mark Morris High School.
As soon as the post was reported, the district immediately began working closely with the Longview Police Department to investigate. At this time, the investigation is ongoing, and law enforcement has not yet determined whether the post represents a credible threat. As a precaution while the investigation continues, the Longview Police Department will have additional officers present at Mark Morris High School.
We understand that situations like this can be concerning. Please know that the safety of our students and staff is our highest priority, and we take every report seriously. We are continuing to work hand-in-hand with law enforcement and will share updates as soon as more information becomes available.
Any student who is absent from school on Monday, February 9, will be considered excused. School counselors will also be available for any student who would like additional support.
We are grateful to those who reported the post. Speaking up when something does not feel right is an important part of keeping our school community safe.
Thank you for your patience and understanding.
