PEARCY -- About 60 demonstrators gathered in a parking lot at Lake Hamilton High School to vocalize their dissatisfaction with various Trump administration policies during a visit to the school on Wednesday afternoon by U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who took part in discussions about improving school safety.
The protesters, some from as far away as Little Rock, were corralled behind a barricade outside the high school building where Sessions met with local law enforcement, school administrators and state and national officials. Most said they were there to voice their opposition to the administration's education policies, in particular, the idea that arming teachers with guns would prevent more mass school shootings.
Participants began to show up around 1:30 p.m. with more coming to the protest following a rally at the campaign headquarters of Hayden Shamel, the Democratic congressional candidate challenging U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-District 4, in November. Shamel spoke to supporters with several other candidates running for Democratic seats in Arkansas.
"This administration has not done anything in terms of education," Shamel told The Sentinel-Record before her rally started. "We need someone who is going to fight for the resources our kids need. There are so many issues with education that are not being brought to the forefront."
Shamel did not attend the demonstration at Lake Hamilton.
"I think Jeff Sessions should be very concerned about his place in our government, and I think he needs to be made aware that people are not going to stand for this administration coming in and pushing forward these ridiculous concepts," David Flora, who traveled from outside of Hot Springs to take part, said. "We need common-sense legislation and not legislation that will only perpetuate gun violence and line the pockets of Republicans who are invested in arms manufacturing."
A number of current and former teachers, some from the Lake Hamilton district, joined the demonstration. Some held signs with slogans like, "Bullets are not school supplies" and "Teachers need funds, not guns." One child held a sign that read, "No guns in my class."
It is unclear whether Sessions was able to see any of the protesters. A motorcade showed up around 3 p.m. but entered a door opposite the side where the protesters were standing. Law enforcement would not allow demonstrators to stand on sidewalks that lined that road where the motorcade entered campus and threatened to arrest one demonstrator who refused to stand behind the metal barricade.
Kay Ekey, a retired special education teacher, said she hopes policymakers will "look at mental health services so there is not a need for so many armed people (in schools)."
"I am glad that school safety is being addressed," Ekey said. "I personally am not in favor of guns on campus except by licensed law enforcement because of the confusion that can ensue or the possibility of getting into the wrong hands."
Darla Dixon, another retired teacher from Lake Hamilton, said that most educators do not support carrying guns.
"If you ask teachers, they are going to say no," she said. "They may not say it out loud, but that is how they feel. They have proven that even people who are highly trained with guns still make big mistakes. The chances for a terrible accident are high."
Nan Cameron, a retired high school principal from Texas, said a "blanket policy" should be developed that addresses myriad school safety issues, ranging from bullying and mental health issues to sexual safety.
"School safety does not only include guns," Cameron said. "We need a blanket policy to cover all of the issues so students feel safe in schools. "
A number of students also attended.
Elizabeth Solleder, a recent high school graduate, said she also does not agree with putting more firearms in schools.
"We don't think guns should be in schools," she said. "We don't think we need to add more violence to the issue."
Her sister, Luna Mae Solleder, an upcoming freshman in high school, said she is concerned about the administration's position toward L.G.B.T. rights.
"People want to love who we want to love, and we don't want to be shot for that or turned away from a business," she said. "We don't need some task force to keep us from being human."
Local on 08/02/2018