Alabama Students Protest High Gas Prices ... By Walking and Bicycling

Brooks High students in north Alabama protest gas prices
5/22/2008, 2:57 p.m. ET
By LAURA BRADDICK
The Associated Press

FLORENCE, Ala. (AP) — When it comes to rising gasoline prices, some choose to stand around and complain. One group of teens, however, is taking a stand by taking a walk.

Ten Brooks High School students met an hour before school started Monday morning at Center Star Baptist Church to make the 2 1/2-mile walk down U.S. 72 to school in protest high gas prices. The protest has continued all week.

Among the group are Elizabeth Simbeck, 17, and Megan McCutchen, 17, both juniors and organizers of the student protest. ...

... The group will continue its protest until the last day of school on May 29. Simbeck and McCutchen said they also plan to continue the protest next school year as seniors.

Full Article from the Associated Press and AL Live

Different motivation, same result. More students walking and biking to school. Local officials however have been less than encouraging:

• The school discourages activities that could put students in danger (walking?)
• Someone threw water balloons at the pedestrians.
• The City of Killen told students that they would need a parade permit that would take 45 days to acquire. (What that all about?). So the students started walking in small groups on their own.