Delina Yohannes and Emilly Weihrauch also contributed to this article.
Acts of resistance can come in many forms of protest: boycotts, strikes, sit-ins, and many more. Why are protests necessary? Well, to put it shortly, they derive from a multitude of reasons, usually being reasons of discontent and anger, that allow those involved to actively vocalize their problems.
Malden is far from unfamiliar with the scene of protesting, as dating back to just a little over three years ago, on October 17, 2022, teachers from all over the city gathered to voice their concerns, one of which was low pay.
Following an official announcement from Malden’s superintendent, Dr. Timothy Sippel, it was announced that Malden High’s current principal, Christopher Mastrangelo, would not have his contract renewed, allowing him to work one more year to reach his full retirement. On December 1st, an Instagram account by the username @maldenhighwalksout came to light, giving publicity to student concerns about unjust treatment, as well as advocating for the voices of Malden’s student body.
Since then, junior Amelia Berliner has revealed herself to be behind the account’s ownership, alongside senior Fiona Youmell.
Berliner explained why she started the account, describing how Mastrangelo has helped her and many students throughout his career. “I have personally worked with Mr. Mastrangelo on many occasions, whether that is through student council, sports, or events; each time he has provided opportunities for success.” She continued on her stance, voicing: “I may not know him too well, but what I do know is he deserves much better than this.”
Youmell added, “We both felt really motivated to stand up for our principal.” Both Youmell and Berliner had hopes in showing both appreciation for Mastrangelo and voicing student concerns to Sippel.
The account’s first post was met with positive reception from students, which Berliner noted there were “51,636 views by the day of the protest, and 533 shares.”
The attention that the news of the walkout had garnered through social media had reached students “pretty much the day it got announced” sophomore Minerva Davenport, a participant of the walkout claimed.
“We were proud that so many voices were heard, people made signs and chants, and it was nice to see our huge school united over our principal. I hope this walkout encourages students to stay engaged with what is happening in our city and use their voice for the greater good,” stated Youmell.
On the 8th of December, this marked the day of the official walkout. Together, all four grades gathered during the 6th enrichment period, leaving through the main office doors. After the group had corralled, they would head towards Pleasant Street, where the City Hall was located. Streets were controlled by several police officers, barricading crosswalks and preventing vehicular entry.
After the students arrived at the City Hall, waves of shouting came out of the crowd, and several chants erupted as students waved their posterboards, signaling their appreciation towards Mastrangelo.
As the crowd began to form, senior Juninho Victor appeared to take charge of the student body, commanding and leading the group.
With Victor’s leadership, the crowd of students began marching towards the City Hall building itself. This plan was quickly shut down, as officers became instantly aware of the situation, blocking the doors from student entry.
Many had begun to split off into smaller groups, hoping to amplify their voices for maximum reach.
Lasting well over 40 minutes, high school staff began to intervene with the rally, as students began to become a large hindrance to local businesses. Adults began to escort students back to the school building, dissipating the protest.
Despite the protest’s short-lived expectancy, the walkout organizer, Berliner, explained how it had exceeded her expectations.
“I walked out of the school to see hundreds of people walking together down to City Hall. To me, this didn’t just show how much Malden High values Mr. Mastrangelo, it also showed us how unified Malden High can be, and how, as a community, we can really do great things if we put our mind to it,” stated Berliner.
The day after, a school committee meeting was held, which allowed students to volunteer to give a speech, outlining their expectations.
Junior Frankie Marenghi, one of the student speakers, shared: “I felt I could accurately represent the student body and the majority opinion because I really don’t mind voicing my opinions regardless of the outcome. I’m not afraid to receive backlash, and I know I can articulate it in a straightforward way that leaves space for discussion. It’s incredibly disrespectful and shows how MPS employees and students can expect to be treated. It shows how undervalued and taken for granted he is.”
Overall, this gave high schoolers a learning experience. Protests aren’t a lighthearted topic; the ability to have protests in the modern world is highly valued and shouldn’t be overlooked. It pushes forward freedom of speech and the need to advocate for yourself and anyone you care about in times of injustice.
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