More than 1,000 Boston public school students staged a walkout on March 7 to protest the city’s plan to cut up to $12 million from the Boston Public Schools budget.

Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh at first blamed union-backed organizations for the protest. But union leaders said they had no formal role in planning the action.

“It was started by a group of high school students, and it spread through social media,” said Richard Stutman, the president of the Boston Teachers Union. “I think it’s great that kids can demonstrate and demonstrate peacefully.”

Erik Lazo, 16, a high school sophomore and leader of the protest, also disputed the mayor’s accusation. “We had adult help, but it was the students who came up with the idea,” said Lazo.

Walsh backtracked after the outcry, issuing a statement on March 10 commending the students “for being passionate about our school system and letting their voices be heard this week.” 

The mayor also said he wants to work with student leaders to provide them with opportunities “to lead meaningful discussion” on the Boston Public Schools budget process.

Boston Globe, March 10