Minneapolis: Protests include large numbers of high school students (Star Tribune, 3/21/03):
About 1,800 Minneapolis high school students walked out of classes, the district estimated. That's nearly 17 percent of the district's 10,600 high school students.
At South High School, hundreds of students walked out of classes at 10:30 a.m. and carpooled or took public buses to the university for a noon rally.
"This is great -- it's tons of people," said Elianne Farhat, 18, a senior, a South High organizer, as she watched students leave school.
"We're not blaming this school for the war, but how can you go on when the whole world is falling apart?" asked senior Savannah Rhomberg.
About 600 of the approximately 1,300 students at Washburn High School in Minneapolis walked out, officials said, the district's highest walkout percentage.
Minneapolis students who left were given unexcused absences even if parents sent a note, said Melissa Winter, a district spokeswoman.