Students stage walkout in response to sexual assaults in Loudoun County School District

The organizers of the protest said they wanted to show "show solidarity to victims of sexual violence and demand safety in our schools."
A woman sits with her sign during a Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) board meeting in Ashburn, Virginia on October 12, 2021.
By Colton Salaz

Students in Loudoun County School District in Virginia walked out of class Tuesday in response to recent sexual assault allegations that took place on two high school campuses.

The organizers of the protest told local news station WUSA that they wanted to show "show solidarity to victims of sexual violence and demand safety in our schools."

On Monday, a Loudoun County judge found that a 15-year-old male student was guilty of sexually assaulting a female student inside the girls' bathroom at Stone Bridge High School, back on May 28.

The same student allegedly assaulted another female student at Broad Run High School, after being transferred there due to the previous sexual assault. 

According to The Hill, a flyer was posted at different high schools across the district encouraging students and teachers to participate in the 10-minute protest by wearing white.

School officials planned for the walk-out by stationing school-resource officers at certain locations across the district.

"Students who choose to participate will not be penalized for their participation," said Loudoun County High School Principal Michelle Lutrell. "However, we do ask that students who participate do so peacefully, without signage, and in accordance with the Students Rights and Responsibilities we all reviewed and signed at the beginning of the year."

According to a tweet from an NBC Washington reporter, at one point students at Broad Run High School, where the second attack allegedly occurred, began shouting "Loudoun County protects rapists."