Norman High School students will walk out on Monday in protest of the school’s treatment of alleged sexual assault victims.
A press conference was held on Monday by the organizers of the “Yes All Daughters” campaign, which seeks to build awareness of bullying and sexual harassment of victims, according to its Facebook page.
Norman High sophomore Danielle Brown read a prepared statement at the press conference, and then she, her mother, Kim Wright, and her aunt, Stacey Wright, answered questions.
A small group of students stood behind them as they answered questions. Some were wearing “Yes All Daughters” stickers.
“We will present Mr. Beck [Norman High School’s principal] with our list of demands on Monday. We ask that students walk out in silence and stand with us throughout the school day in honor of the victims,” Brown said in a prepared statement.
The walk out will take place at 9:20 a.m. on Monday, Brown said.
There have been three allegations of sexual assault in the past calendar year made against one student. One of the allegations was in the spring semester and two were in September.
“We don’t feel that it was handled correctly,” Kim Wright said.
None of the alleged victims are currently attending Norman High School, Kim Wright said.
The alleged assailant is also no longer attending school, Stacey Wright said.
One of the alleged victims was verbally abused as she tried to walk into school on her first day back following the incident, Stacey Wright said.
When asked why she was helping to organize the walk out, Brown said, "It could have been anyone. It could have been me."
The organizers of the walk out ask that parents check their students out of school if they plan to participate in the protest, Kim Wright said.
“We want to see a spotlight put on the bullying issue specifically here at Norman high, and also address the problem of victim blaming in our cultures,” Stacey Wright said.
When asked what the response would be if the demands are not met, Kim Wright said, "all we can do is make our voices heard."
More information about the protest can be found at the Facebook page for "Yes All Daughters."
“The idea is that it could be anyone’s daughter. These girls are all our daughters,” Stacey Wright said, adding that the idea had come in part from the popular “Yes All Women” campaign.
