Homewood-Flossmoor students planning walkout Thursday after report of sexual assault at school
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Hundreds of students staged a walkout at Homewood-Flossmoor High School on Thursday.
The school said 250 students walked out to protest the school's handling of a fellow student's report of a sexual assault inside the school.how the school handled a student's report of a sexual assault inside the school.
Administrators said the alleged incident happened Monday involving two students in a theatre class. Flossmoor police are investigating.
In a statement, Flossmoor school officials said they value students voices and they're planning an open forum with students to address concerns.
CBS 2's Mugo Odigwe tried to talk with students as they went to school Thursday morning, but reporters weren't allowed on school property.
Students have said they plan to walk out of school at 1 p.m. in support of a classmate whose mother has said the girl was sexually assaulted Monday morning inside the school.
Flossmoor Police have confirmed they're investigating the report. Officers took a boy student into custody for questioning on Monday. He has since been released to the custody of his father while police continue investigating.
Earlier this week, the girl's mother said the district has not been fully transparent about what happened to her daughter.
"That's why they are doing the walkouts, because there's not enough security, there's not enough adult supervision, there's not people that are listening to these girls. And the fact that there's no camera," she said.
The girl's mother said her daughter was sexually assaulted Monday in a first-period theater class while the girl was rehearsing lines with another student away from the rest of the class.
The district has said they followed all relevant school and legal protocols regarding the situation after the girl reported she was sexually assaulted. The school said it's cooperating with the police investigation.
But on Thursday, students plan to express their frustration.
"What's circulating about the protests currently, my daughter did not organize or orchestrate. These are other girls who were not heard the first time, that feel like this is a second opportunity for them to be heard," the girl's mother said.
Thursday's walk out won't be the first. School officials said about 40 students walked out on Tuesday.
And in March, hundreds of students staged a walkout to protest how the school handles sexual assault and harassment issues.
As for Thursday's walk out, the school said they'll work to ensure all students are safe.
"We value student voice. At an open forum on Tuesday after school, we expressed to students the importance of their voice and participation while seeking their feedback in order to plan to move forward as a school and community. A second opportunity for open dialogue with students and administration is being planned in the near future," the school's superintendent and principal said in a statement.
School officials confirmed access to the campus will be closed during the walkout and students are asked to stay on campus.
