One student's sermon on the hill

MOSES LAKE — It was a chilly and overcast Wednesday morning at 10 a.m. when about 150 Moses Lake High School students gathered in the school’s commons.

It was the morning of the National School Walkout, and a call for students across the country to walk out of school at 10 a.m. for 17 minutes as a protest against school violence and gun violence.

And for a few minutes, they just stood there, clumped in groups, talking to each other.

Until Angelica Mansfield, who described herself as “just a sophomore,” walked to the top of the hill overlooking the commons and spoke.

Because, she said, someone had to.

“These school shootings are happening from these kids you guys are cornering out, that you’re bullying, that you’re doing all this stuff to, because you think it’s funny. And it’s not funny,” she said.

“All these kids just want to be themselves. They want to be who they want to be in their own school,” she continued. “They’re here to learn. They’re not here to bully.”

And what was intended nationally as an appeal for legislators to do something about guns became, for Mansfield, a deeply heartfelt plea against bullying, and for kindness, compassion and solidarity.

“You should love your neighbor. You should be there for them. Sit with them at lunch, tell them that you’re their friend, that you’re going to be there for them, whenever they need you,” she said.

Because school shouldn’t be a place where people with difficult lives have to face even more problems.

“I don’t see why it’s so hard to be nice, and care, and love each other. It’s not hard,” Mansfield said.

“I know some of you are going to laugh and look at me like I’m stupid, but I don’t care,” she continued. “And I’m sorry that I look mad, and I’m saying this aggressively, but you guys won’t get it any other way.”

“Because it’s not a joke,” she said. “It’s really not.”

“I love all of you guys,” she said as the gathered students applauded. “I care about you.”

According to MLHS principal Jake Long, the students were encouraged to gather in the commons — a courtyard inside MLHS — rather than at the flagpole in front because it was safer.

After Mansfield spoke, she also asked for a minute of silence to remember those who have been killed in school shootings across the country.

Mansfield, who is a district student but does most of her schooling online, said she found speaking “nerve-racking” but that it is important to her that students treat each other better and care for each other more.

“These kids just want to be loved and feel like they’re somebody, you know, and I just want everybody to know that,” she said.

“This means a lot to me. It does,” she said as students slowly began returning to class.

Charles H. Featherstone can be reached via email at countygvt@columbiabasinherald.com.