Portland Protesters Topple Thomas Jefferson Statue at Jefferson High School

I am very conflicted about this - they have a very active student body, a strong support group of local leaders, and has a very large Black and Hispanic student body. I've lived in the area nearby for most of my life, and keep up on the school and it's activities, like the dance team, local football and basketball stars that attend. I even go watch the thier games with family and alumni from time to time.

That being said, I really think this would have been a discussion and action item better handled by student leaders and the community, as opposed to a group of predominantly white protestors - now thier school is damaged with spray paint, and the statue is damaged and a group of well intentioned, but misguided affluent folks again took the power from a minority group.

I understand this will not be a popular opinion, but let me offer this in comparison in a fictional headline - and try to imagine how that would play out.

"A group of students from Jefferson High School, protesting systemic racism all rallied yesterday evening at Lewis and Clark College on Palatine Rd in SW spray painted slave owners on the end of the trail monument, and toppled the 12 ft bronze statue of Lewis and Clark"

/r/Portland Thread Link - eek.com