Boston Students Protest Lack Of Diversity, Sudden School Firing

BOSTON, MA — Students walked out of a Cathedral High School in Boston on Wednesday to protest several issues they said the administration was refusing to listen to them on, including their confusion about the abrupt termination of longtime, beloved athletic director Larry Merritt.

"We want Merritt. We want change," the students shouted from the steps of the school holding signs and clapping as news cameras and parents stood by. The students, many decked in the green school jackets, then chanted "Santos" calling the head of the school to come out and listen to their list of issues primary of which was reinstating the athletic director.

The Cathedral High School Athletic Director was fired on March 23 after an investigation into multiple incidents violating the school’s code of conduct, Oscar Santos, head of Cathedral High School told media. The Boston Globe reported earlier that firing came just days after the team was eliminated from the Boys Basketball Division 4 South tournament.

Students took turns explaining to media and those gathered that the firing was the tipping point for a number of issues for which students and parents were concerned.

“How is it possible that in a school that is majority of people of color that we only have four faculty that look like us?” student Kaiya Duverna said on video wearing a white shirt with the initials "LM" for Larry Merritt on them.

A high school senior told those gathered that more seniors would have showed up if they hadn't feared their diplomas would be held. Another student said it should be no surprise that students were exercising their right to speak on the heels of major student-led protests across the country.

Students said they attempted to talk to the head of the school Tuesday but were rebuffed with threats to call their parents.

"The same way we stand up and March For Our Lives is the same way we walked out here," said Monica Cannon-Grant who was at the school and live streamed the protest. She said students were blocked from coming out to protest though many found their way out to do just that. She also said doors were locked preventing students from returning to class once they were out.

The school is a private co-educational, college preparatory Catholic junior high and high school with nearly 400 students on Union Park Street.

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Photo courtesy Monica Cannon-Grant.