Newly re-elected President, Donald Trump, has been in office for just over a month, yet has already signed 50 executive orders that have a high chance of impacting students at AHS— both their school life and home life.
Some of these executive orders negatively target people of color, women, and members of the lgbtq+ community, making them more subject to oppression.
“The things that Trump has been pushing have been causing people to act more outwardly on their prejudice and their negative beliefs, which you can see even if not at this school,” Keenan Van Winkle (11), a member of the lgbtq+ community, said. “I have seen people at this school say things because of Trump, but you can see people on the streets more outwardly expressing their contempt for people who aren’t cisgender, heterosexual white men,” Van Winkle said.
Students believe that this may be the beginning of the ‘watering down’ of AHS’s diversity and culture. With all the oppression against minorities, culture can eventually be erased from settings.
“We have all this culture flowing through the school,” Makena Alcorn (12), a person of color and member of the lgbtq+ community, said. “If we’re not able to take charge and lead in a good example, you’re taking that away from future students.”
Beyond cultural concerns, the economic impact of Trump’s decisions is something most students are worried about, the severity growing each day. Over 19% of the US workforce is made up of illegal immigrants, at risk of deportation.
“Since we’re losing the people that work in labor intensive places, we have less food and less materials to work with. In a country that is based off of consumerism and capitalism, it’s literally going to be our downfall because the people that think that something like this doesn’t affect their daily life don’t realize how badly it’s gonna impact our entire country,” Ellie O’Brien-Bowen (11), a member of the lgbtq+ community, said.
With the potential mass deportations of illegal immigrants having a chokehold on America’s economy, not only are the financial situations of students worsening, but the social lives of students as well. Many students are unable to find peace in public without being subject to hate.
“It’s awful seeing my Nina and Papa get distasteful looks out in public. Both of them are originally from Mexico and immigrated here when my dad was young,” Kierra Turner-Perez (9), a person of color and member of the lgbtq+ community, said.
Perez believes that the majority of illegal immigrants deserve to have a chance in America, where they came to be free and have opportunity.
“Seeing things online that are just genuine demonization of all illegal immigrants makes me sad, because it’s a smaller fraction. The only crime most illegal immigrants commit is coming here illegally,” Perez said.
The unfairness of the mass deportations isn’t the only injustice served to America by President Donald Trump. While minorities seem to be the main target, the pause on federal loans could potentially ruin or end many lives due to not receiving needed medical care.
“I attend Seattle Children’s Hospital for healthcare due to Scoliosis. I’ve had spinal fusion surgery and without federal loans granted to Seattle Children’s Hospital, my family would never have been able to afford to give me my surgery and by now I would be struggling to breathe as my spine put pressure on my lungs,” Mackenzie Moff (12), a member of the lgbtq+ community, said.
Those who are not facing the consequences of these executive orders have usually kept quiet about these problems, though some choose to speak out against them, and their effects.
“I do know that some of Trump’s policies are affecting people all over the U.S., AHS included. In my opinion, everyone should be treated equally,” Connor Stoeckel (10) said.
“The last thing I would want is for our country to get to a point where so many groups are being treated less than others, that it sparks protests, riots and the like,” Stoeckel said.
Trump’s executive orders are causing student’s at AHS and all around America distress. While some celebrate his victory in the election, others mourn it. Those who support Trump’s presidency chose not to be interviewed for this story.
“The people in my life are scared because we don’t know what direction this country is going in. I just think it’s really harmful. I’m really worried that it’s going to harm the people I love and care about, or harm me,” Van Winkle said.
