Antioch Police Arrest Three Students During Anti-Trump Protest, Officer Assaulted

The Antioch Police Department announced the arrest of three Pittsburg juveniles who participated in an anti-Donald Trump Rally on Thursday morning.

Police say they responded just after 10:00 am to the rally at Antioch High School and Antioch middle School where they arrested a 13-year-old, a 15-year-old, and 17-year-old (all Pittsburg, CA residents) as 400 students protested.

Pittsburg High Principal Todd Whitmire joining students in the anti-Donald Trump protest

According to Lt. Tony Morefield, approximately 400 Pittsburg High School students along with their Principal headed into the City of Antioch. These protestors headed through Century Plaza in Pittsburg and into Antioch on Auto Center Way and Sycamore Drive, causing significant hazard and traffic delays in the area.

Lt. Morefield explained that students then made their way to the Antioch High School campus in an apparent effort to involve students there. Antioch High was placed on lockdown, but this did not stop the protestors from damaging school property (knocking down fences and kicking over trash cans) before leaving that campus and heading toward Antioch Middle School.

Antioch Middle was also placed on lockdown as was Live Oak High School and nearby Fremont Elementary School due to the protest, though the protestors never made it that far.

“These Pittsburg High protestors continued to cause havoc on Antioch campuses and in the surrounding neighborhoods for over 2-hours,” said Morefield.  “15 Antioch Police Officers were tied up dealing with this protest causing a significant strain on resources and evening shifts to be called in early.  This resulted in numerous priority calls for service in the city having to wait for officers to respond.”

In total, three juveniles were arrested during the protest:

• 1 for throwing a dangerous object at a police car, trespassing on school grounds and being a disruptive presence at school
• 1 for inciting a fight with an area resident, trespassing on school grounds and resisting a police officer
• 1 for assaulting a police officer.

Morefield highlighted There is no estimate on any damage caused to Antioch High or Antioch Middle School at this time but noted it appears that very few Antioch students were involved in this incident.

Most of the Pittsburg High Students eventually walked back to Century Plaza in Pittsburg and a few were rounded up onto school buses and taken back to their campus.

No further information was provided.

Press Releases by both Antioch High School and the Pittsburg Unified School District.

Here is a statement released by Antioch High School Principal Louie Rocha:

I want to commend our school staff for their collective effort in securing our campus during the School Lockdown.  Thanks to the team work of our site safety security, front office staff, teachers, school administrators and students we were able to prevent our students from being in harm’s way of a large number of Pittsburg High School students who walked out of school this morning and attempted to enter our campus.

There was a small group of Pittsburg students who were able to gain access via the Don Richardson Gym entrance.  The non-students ran through the PE area and exited out of campus on to 18^th Street.  The Antioch and Pittsburg Police Departments arrived on site to prevent the non-students from disrupting our school day.  We had a small number of AHS students who exited the main entrance gate to join the unruly crowd.  However once I informed them that I was going to lock down the school preventing them from re-entering they decided to return to campus without incident.  The Pittsburg High School students continued down 18^th and G Streets.

The lockdown continued because the non-students returned back to 18^th Street in front of our main entrance and were escorted by the Antioch and Police Departments back to L Street in the direction of the city of Pittsburg.  At that point, classes were released to their regular school schedule to their 5^th period classes or first lunch.

I am proud of the team work demonstrated today and our students conduct when faced with unruly students from another high school.  I am looking forward to the Veteran’s Day Holiday, and wish all of you an enjoyable weekend with your family and friends.

Louie Rocha
Principal of Antioch High School

The following is a statement issued by Pittsburg Unified School District Superintendent Janet Schulze confirming they were Pittsburg High School students.

This Presidential election has been especially emotional. In dealing with differences and moving forward, we have to respect feelings and work in community. Today some of our high school students, like many across the Bay Area and country,  organized, via social media,  a peaceful protest and walk-out to protest the Presidential election.

The District always prefers to have all students in class, however, we do understand some students are passionate about the recent election.

Our staff and Pittsburg Police Department followed procedures to insure their safety, which is always a top priority.  Some of the students returned to the high school and a group of approximately 200 students headed towards Antioch High School. The District informed Antioch High School and sent busses to pick up students outside Antioch High School. 

Unfortunately, a small number  of the students were unresponsive to directives to return to school and get on the bus. Another group of students decided to walk back to the high school.  Those situations will be managed on an individual basis and students will receive appropriate consequences for their behaviors. 

At this time, students have returned to school. We appreciate the professionalism and cooperation of the Antioch High School staff and the Antioch Police Department in working with us and the Pittsburg Police Department to insure all students remain safe.

Questions into the Pittsburg Unified School District have not yet been returned as of 4:00 pm.

Check back for updates.