Protests continue, students walk out of Denver schools

DENVER -- For another day, hundreds of students at area high schools walked out in protest over the results of the presidential elections. 

Students from Strive Preparatory marched down Speer to Colfax and onto the Capitol amid a walk-out protest, in which they were joined by staff and faculty.

Students said they found support among their leadership when bringing up the idea, which other high schools in the area -- including in Boulder and Denver -- carried out last week.

"What we plan to do with this is show that even though we're teenagers and we can't vote, we still have a voice," one student organizer said of her group of hundreds.

The students said they plan to show that all groups, including minorities, can band together to show they love one another.

What stood out to some is the support the students received from teachers and faculty. Denver Public Schools said they do support students in these endeavors. 

"It is an educational opportunity, and it doesn't matter what side of the fence you're on," Allen Smith, Denver Public Schools associate chief of culture, equity and leadership teams, said. "The number one thing we want is to make sure our students are learning from this." 

Students estimated roughly 80 percent of their school joined in the protest, which did slow traffic on some city streets as police escorted the students. It didn't bother Denver Public Schools. 

"We want them to know we are here for them, to provide them a good education, to give them a voice when they are feeling certain things, and to keep them safe," Smith said. 

Students say they don't plan to continue walking out of school. They say they hope to hold educational meetings within the school to help encourage higher graduation rates and teach others about the importance of being an educated voter.