HARRISONBURG, VA (Rocktown Now) — Harrisonburg City Public School Superintendent Dr. Michael Richards addressed the walkouts that occurred at Thomas Harrison Middle School, Harrisonburg High School, and Rocktown High School last Friday. 

Dr. Richards continued by saying he was proud of the students and that it was “civil disobedience at its finest” during last night’s school board meeting.

“And I love the fact that they came to us and said, we’re going to walk out. Normally I think when there’s civil disobedience, it’s more of a surprise, but they trusted us enough to come to us and say, ‘we’re going to do this. We want you to know we’re going to do this,” Dr. Richards said.

Dr. Richards thanked his colleagues for jumping into action to allow the students to have their voices heard, which he said they have a right to, but to also keep them safe.