HARRISONBURG, VA (Rocktown Now) – James Madison University College of Education students held a walkout outside of Memorial Hall in protest of policy changes to education earlier today, March 5, 2025.  

Some of these policy changes include the possible termination of the Department of Education and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) policies in education.

Several students, faculty and staff stood outside with signs and listened to several speakers, including Harrisonburg Mayor Deanna R. Reed. Mayor Reed said that she doesn’t usually attend protests or walkouts, but that this topic is personal.

Mayor Deanna R. Reed addressing the crowd at the walkout.

“This administration is messing with our kids,” said Mayor Reed in her speech. “Our most vulnerable, our future and that’s something that should get all of us and has gotten all of us standing up and speaking out together.”

 Rebecca McCann is an Elementary Education student and the lead organizer for the event. She said one of the main reasons for planning the event was to advocate for students. 

“They are not in a position where they can speak for and advocate for themselves to the level that I can as an adult, as a college student, who has the privilege to be able to plan events like this and to be able to use my voice to advocate for them,” said McCann. “So that is the reasoning as to why I wanted to be here. I wanted to make sure I was speaking up for my career and for my students’ futures.”

McCann revealed during the event that 10 minutes before the walkout, she received news that she had lost her job lined up after graduation due to cuts in funding.

“That makes me want to be here today more than anything I could ever possibly imagine,” said McCann during her speech. “You all being here means the absolute world to me and I want to thank every single one of you for using your voices to speak up, to stand up, and to be here today.”

The crowd proceeded to direct their signs and chanted by the sidewalk outside of Memorial Hall with traffic driving by.