By: Journey Artis
SOARce Staff Writer
The year 2020 ends in three months, but it no doubt will be remembered most for COVID-19 and the Black Lives Matter protests. California schools have largely been remote, which means students, teachers, and other staff to work from home in this “new normal.”
For SOAR, students have not been on campus since March 12. Traditional events like Prom, Graduation, and Grad Nite were all cancelled when Gov. Gavin Newsome closed school campuses. Instead, students have to finish the 2019-2020 online. They remain in distance learning mode with the California State University, Los Angeles Community College, and Ventura Community College already confirming that Spring 2021 will also be online.
As of today, more than 800,000 cases and 15,330 deaths have been reported in California. The economy has also taken a hit with the Golden State making up a staggering 27 percent of the 870,000 jobless filings nationwide.
COVID-19 has caused fear, an accelerating number of deaths, schools to shut down, people’s livelihood and opportunities to be robbed from them and many other negative effects.
“Many people who have either suffered or died from COVID, leaving families devastated,” said sophomore Aaliyah Bridewell.
It has also negatively impacted SOAR students, including freshmen who have had to begin their high school experience working from home.
“COVID has made it harder for me to enjoy my freshman year and learning experience, said Samantha Canton.
Samantha, along with the rest of the Class of 2024, saw the traditional week-long Summer Bridge program changed to accommodate the new online format. A week meant to introduce students to the early college high school program that SOAR is and offer them a chance to meet their ambassadors in person changed to weekly Friday meetings over Zoom.
For Canton, the experience was one of several opportunities that COVID-19 has robbed her of. The traditional 8th grade trip to Six Flags was scrapped when the park closed and the event cancelled.
“I was going to go to Six Flags for the first time with my friends,” she said, adding “I was looking forward to it but COVID ruined it along with my summer school classes.”
Indeed, many students stated that COVID-19 has ruined their 2020 plans and robbed them of events, activities and experiences that cannot be replaced. Health officials recommend that in order to flatten the curve we all must wear a mask, wash our hands, social distance, and keep hope alive.
COVID-19 is one of the two biggest stories that mark this year.
The Black Lives Matter movement began in 2013 after the death of Trayvon Martin, an African American teenager shot by his neighbor George Zimmerman, who was later found not guilty in his death. The verdict prompted Alicia Garza, an American civil rights activist and writer, to use the hashtag #blacklivesmatter in a Facebook post in response to the police killings of Black people.
Those who support and are part of the Black Lives Matter movement took to the streets multiple times this year due to several murders of African Americans.
On February 23, the fatal shooting and death of Ahmaud Arbery by a white father and son duo was caught on camera. Three months later, George Floyd died in police custody. Witnesses and video showed one officer kneeling on his neck for more than 8 minutes while two other officers watched. He could be heard telling officers he couldn’t breath before falling unconscious. He later died at a hospital. His death prompted worldwide protests against police brutality, police racism and lack of police accountability.
On Thursday, a Grand Jury in Kentucky failed to charge anyone in the death of EMT Breonna Taylor. She was killed during the course of a warrant taken out by police who were not in uniform but were rather in plain clothes. Taylor, who was allegedly to be asleep at the time, was shot nine times and died instantly. Only one officer was indicted on a charge of endangerment due to bullets penetrating the walls of a nearby residence.
“The BLM movement has made a huge impact on the world by sharing a huge story that has been going on for many years throughout history and this opened new perspectives, and educated many people on hate and racism,” said Aaliyah.
COVID-19 and BLM Protests have definitely made 2020 a year for the books. COVID-19 has created death, tension, and loss of opportunities while BLM supporters hope to inspire hope, action and justice through their protests and to end the loss of black lives lost to police brutality and gun violence.
Samantha Canton, SOAR Highschool
Aaliyah Bridewell, SOAR Highschool
LOVE this article! Great job :)