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On Thursday, May 11, Menlo-Atherton High School students gathered on campus at the PAC Café around 11 a.m. for a walkout in response to a student being pinned down and arrested by Atherton police on Middlefield Road in April, according to the M-A Chronicle.

Organized by the student club M-A Protest Organization, participants walked from the Atherton campus to nearby Burgess Park in Menlo Park, where speakers addressed the crowd. The walkout took place during fourth period.

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We wanted to show people that even though it’s such a small thing, it's really concerning and that we really care. We hope that the police get re-educated because the way they handled things was not okay, it was so unprofessional. We want justice for all the trauma they brought to the student," said student Itzel Garcia during a walkout at Menlo-Atherton High School on May 11, 2023. Courtesy Daniel Lanier.
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Students stopped at 7-Eleven and J&J's Hawaiian Barbecue and the protest came to a close. Courtesy Daniel Lanier.

Students also gathered for a smaller walkout the following day, Friday, May 12, at noon, according to the M-A Protest Organization's Instagram page. This walkout was open to students from other schools.

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I decided to come because I was actually there when (the student) was getting arrested and seeing that… I couldn't believe my eyes. I hope that (the walkout) will show our administration that we want a change and that we will not stop until we get a change," said student Melanie Osuna Madera during a walkout at Menlo-Atherton High School on May 11, 2023. Courtesy Daniel Lanier.
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 At 11 a.m. on May 11, 2023 students assembled in and around the PAC Café to participate in the M-A Protest Organization's scheduled walkout. Courtesy Daniel Lanier.

For more on the incident read our story on community response at a recent board meeting.

The student, who was arrested following an alleged confrontation with a member of the school administration, is being represented by notable civil rights attorney John Burris, whose past clients include Rodney King.

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Angela Swartz was The Almanac's editor from 2023 until 2025. She joined The Almanac as a reporter in 2018. She previously reported on youth and education, and the towns of Atherton, Portola Valley and...

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