BURBANK : 60 Students Walk Out to Protest Dress Code

Chanting “No dress code!” about 60 Burbank High School students staged a walkout Wednesday to protest a new school district ban on gang-related attire.

“We really did it just so that they would listen to us,” said Raquel Castaneda, a 16-year-old sophomore.

The students said they were angry that the new code was written and implemented without them, being consulted. After walking out of school at 10:15 a.m., the students had planned to march to Burbank City Hall to voice their complaints. There were no arrests, but about half of the students were escorted back to school, some in police cars.

School administrators said they fully support the ban, but also respected the students’ complaints. “They feel that they were left out and it’s a legitimate concern,” said Assistant Principal Gaylene Van Zjill. “We’re going to show them the way they can adequately air their complaints before the school board and the City Council.”