Following Donald Trump’s win, we, The Beacon, are concerned about the impact his second term may have on JR students, our community, and others around the country.
As public school students, we are worried about the treatment of our peers. Trump has threatened to abolish the Department of Education or use it to remove protections for some students. The department is charged with ensuring equal access to public education, and currently provides protections for transgender students and those with disabilities. If Trump were to carry out either threat, our learning environment could become less accessible and safe for some of our peers.
And, as learners, we fear that diverse voices may be silenced in school curricula. Trump has promised to curb the discussion of gender and race in the classroom. Beyond DCPS, we have already watched states eradicate AP African American Studies and school districts ban books by Nobel Laureates. Ignorance leads to indifference, inaction, and hate. As we watch history disappear and voices silenced across the country, we are worried. High school students must be taught about the social, cultural, and historical context of our society.
As student journalists, we are concerned about the protection of our voices and the broader freedom of the press. Trump has repeatedly deemed the media as the “enemy of the American people.” His attacks on the press and labeling stories as “fake news” undermine trust in credible journalism. With Trump’s majority share in Truth Social, the social media platform he created after being banned from both Facebook and X (formerly Twitter)—and his growing alliance with X’s owner, Elon Musk—the government and social media could become dangerously linked, threatening the existence of free press. Let it not be forgotten that a Trump tweet helped spark the insurrection on January 6.
As DC residents, we are also worried for our home. For the last 50 years, the Home Rule Act has delegated the city a degree of autonomy through the mayor and city council. Trump has been outspoken about reasserting federal control over DC. If he were to remove Home Rule, DC would be left without self-governance, and our city’s institutions would suffer.
As individuals, we are worried for others. During his presidency, Trump did more to restrict abortion rights than any other president. He appointed three Supreme Court justices who helped overturn Roe v. Wade, and then proudly took credit. Outlawing abortions will not stop abortions. It will only stop safe ones. Women across the country will face the possibility of diminishing access to abortion, birth control, and basic healthcare. For the next four years women will need to fight for control over their own bodies.
We fear for undocumented immigrants in the face of Trump’s threats of mass deportation aided by the military in a school where some of our peers may be personally affected. We believe that if carried out, this aggressive immigration approach is inhumane, divisive, and will have extreme consequences.
We stand with the LGBTQ community against Trump’s agenda to target transgender people. Trump’s priorities to ban trans people from the military and restrict gender-affirming health care for minors will undo the powerful fight for progress and human rights.
As youth, we are worried for our climate. Trump has repeatedly claimed that global warming is a “hoax,” and will likely once again pull the US out of the Paris Accords, roll back environmental regulations, and expand fossil fuel development.
As the student voice of our diverse school, we will continue to be a platform for discussion and expression in a time when many people will be in danger of being silenced. Though we are scared, we must continue to exercise our rights to free speech, press, and assembly to stand up for what we believe in. •
