HUNDREDS OF CHS STUDENTS WALK OUT TO PROTEST TRUMP

Several hundred Columbia High School students walked out of class this morning in protest of Donald Trump's inauguration in a mostly peaceful protest that ended with the majority returning to class.

The walkout began at about 11 a.m., just as festivities in Washington, D.C., were getting underway, with students leaving class and meeting in front of the school building.

The group then marched to Town Hall along Valley Street, chanted and cheered for a brief time in front of the municipal building, then returned to the school. Chants ranged from "black lives matter" to "not my president." 

Police were dispatched to keep order, at one point closing portions of Valley Street between the school and Town Hall, but with no signs of disruption.

School District Spokeswoman Suzanne Turner walked with the group and said, while it was not organized by the school, district officials were supportive of the effort and had not sought to stop it.

See some highlights below:




Students said the effort was very much a grassroots creation, starting slowly via social media, texting, and Snapchat, then building with the gathering out front. One student said he saw some violence, claiming a door window had been smashed inside, but there was no outward evidence of damage.

See some student comments below: