By Benjamin Hong, Editor In Chief; Connor Hawthorne, Editor In Chief; Shivali Shah, Digital Editor; Abigale Paterniti, News Editor
On Wednesday, February 5th, approximately 125 students participated in a school-wide walkout to protest Executive Order 14151, passed by President Donald Trump on January 20. Entitled “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing,” this directive seeks to dismantle Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives across all federal institutions.
The new executive order mandates that the director of the Office of Management and Budget “coordinate the termination of all discriminatory programs, including illegal DEI and “diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility” (DEIA) mandates, policies, programs, preferences, and activities in the Federal Government, under whatever name they appear.” It also requires the director of the Office of Personnel Management to review and revise “all existing Federal employment practices, union contracts, and training policies or programs to comply with this order.”
This marks a significant shift in how diversity-related policies have historically been implemented in the United States, effectively rescinding Executive Order 13985, titled “Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government.” Issued by Former President Biden, it focused on tackling systemic racism in all aspects of life, advancing racial equality, and providing support to underserved communities. Trump’s new executive order also runs counter to the effects of similar DEI-related efforts from past administrations, including those of former presidents Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and Lyndon B. Johnson.
The executive order has sparked much controversy and opposition. Many argue that the action undermines years of progress toward equal opportunity and inclusion. Accordingly, a barrage of lawsuits against the Trump administration has resulted from the order, with the list of plaintiffs including the city of Baltimore. Representatives of the city contest described the order as “unconstitutionally vague,” and argued that “the vagueness [of the executive order] encourages those tasked with enforcing the order to ‘engage in discriminatory enforcement.’”
Some River Hill students who also opposed the President’s actions took the opportunity to voice their opposition to the order by participating in the Wednesday walkout. Organized by Senior Caitlyn Foot, the walkout took place during Hawk Time, with students meeting in the front and walking out on the track together in unity. Foot emphasized the importance of student activism in hot-button issues like this, stating, “As students we don’t have a very loud voice but there are still things we can do within school to make a difference.” Foot’s primary goal for the protest was to “spread awareness,” and if students “[get] people to care about the issue, it does make a difference and it brings it to the forefront of people’s minds.”
Among the students who participated in the walk-out was senior Michael Gerdes, who spoke about the personal impact of the order on his peers. “A lot of people I know are directly affected by this… [and] I want to be there to support my people so that a lot of my friends are able to get the jobs that they deserve one day and not be subject to discrimination,” Gerdes remarks. “It’s a big step back in [the] progress that’s been made over the years”
Junior Sanah Ahmed, who was also one of many who walked in peaceful protest, concurred, stating, “It feels like we’re kinda going backward in time with the whole executive order.” Ahmed also aired her feelings on the significance of standing up for equal rights and opportunities, making it clear that “it’s very important that we’re not discriminated against […] We want to have the same opportunities that everyone else does because historically, that has not been the case.” Junior Nika Nikhinson shared Ahmed’s concerns, explaining that “a meritocracy doesn’t really work in a world where a group of people already has an advantage […] Now that we’re going into college, I want to have the same opportunities as other people, as a Jewish person and as a woman.”
Executive Order 14151 threatens to undo decades of progress in the fight against discrimination of all kinds in the workplace and in the broader world. The walkout against its implementation stands as a testament to the importance of student voice and emphasizes River Hill’s place as an environment that promotes and protects civil rights. It serves as a role model for other schools across the county and the nation looking to allow students to express their beliefs, and in doing so, helps set society’s expectations for a new generation of activists.