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Denver Students Walkout to Protest School Violence

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Students at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Early College walkout of class on Tuesday morning to protest violence on school grounds.

The protest was organized in response to a recent incident where a group of four individuals attacked a student outside the school. The attack, caught on multiple videos circulating on social media, has sparked outrage among students and parents alike.

The family of the victim, who wishes to remain anonymous, expressed frustration that the school failed to reach out to them after the attack. “We haven’t heard anything. Not even, ‘Hey, how’s he doing?’” said the victim’s mother, Jeanette Lara. “They haven’t reached out. I feel like they don’t care.”

The victim’s aunt, Cynthia Lara, also works at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Early College and echoed her sister’s sentiments. “I don’t know why. He was just standing outside with his friends. He was just telling them, ‘No, you’ve got the wrong person. You’ve got the wrong person.’ Because they were looking for somebody.”

The attack has sparked fear among students and their families, who are demanding action from Denver Public Schools (DPS). “Make us feel safe,” Cynthia Lara pleaded. “It’s not the first time something like this has happened. Nothing changes.” Despite media outlets contacting DPS for comment, no response has been received.

In the wake of this incident, the family has reached out to attorney Matthew Barringer, who is representing the family of Luis Garcia. Garcia, a 16-year-old student, was shot and killed outside East High School in February.

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The walkout at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Early College serves as a powerful reminder of the issues facing students in today’s schools. The family hopes to bring attention to the issue of school violence and hold the school and district accountable for providing a safe learning environment for students.

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