Students at William Howard Taft High School in Chicago's Norwood Park neighborhood staged a walkout Thursday morning due to safety concerns. The walkout was sparked by a social media threat against students at the school, which officials said was not credible. The Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is also investigating alleged threats towards the school.
The walkout began after a student made a threat to the school online, which police said was not credible. Nevertheless, students at Taft High School said that whether the threat was real or not, they wanted to take action. Dozens of students took part in the walkout, and some of them were joined by supportive parents.
In response to the walkout, officials with Taft High School said they would reinforce the screening of students before they enter the school. They also said they will work to ensure the safety of students and staff at the school. The school has placed additional security guards and police officers on the premises since the walkout.