Olympia High School student, Emma Grant is to lead a youth-lead inauguration rally on January 20th at the State Capitol Legislative Building Steps. The rally will be held from 9am to 12pm. Capital High School students can attend this event by receiving prior approval following the regular process for getting excused from school.

The rally focuses on “empowering speakers, music and organizations dedicated to positive change in our communities” according to their flyer information. The flyer clarifies the focus of the rally to not be in support of the president-elect Donald Trump. The image behind the information shows a person, not related to this rally, holding a sign that states “Not my president” and uses the hashtag with the abbreviation for Black Lives Matter. Beneath the flyer image, the words “Support. Resist. Reject.” appears.

Capital High School administration, when interviewed, stated that they “firmly believe that the best place for students is in the classroom. However, we do recognize that families have additional priorities.”

Olympia High School principal, Matt Grant, stated, “I like our students being active. [I support and] have supported them attending any rally in good standing. We want to teach kids to empower themselves and learn how to positively participate in their community.”

Capital High School students do have the right to attend this rally and those wanting to will need to “have their parent/guardian contact the attendance office and give permission for the student to attend the rally by January 20th. Students that do not do this will be marked Absent Unexcused,” according to the CHS administration.

Capital High School administration further clarified that the ability to attend this rally does not mean the school or district endorses any political rally of event. CHS administration further clarified that the ability to attend this rally is “not a modification [to the school/district attendance policy]. See page 19 in the OSD Rights and Responsibilities Handbook under Excused Absences.”

An earlier version of this article identified a student who no longer wishes to be affiliated.