Hundreds of Timberline High School students stood on the sidewalk facing their school Wednesday morning, chanting.
“Rape is not a joke!” they shouted. “Keep school safe!”
Students walked out of class at about 10:15 a.m. in a show of solidarity with those facing sexual violence. They were joined by some parents and community members.
The protest was sparked by photos shared on the social media platform Snapchat showing violent messages threatening to rape and kill a female student. They were allegedly sent by Timberline football players in a group chat titled “Gameday lunch.” The photos were widely circulated online in the Boise community this past weekend.
The Idaho Statesman obtained screenshots of the messages from a student. Five Timberline students confirmed they were the same photos they saw posted to Snapchat.
“U think Cornell was bad just wait for us,” one message said, referring to a case that garnered recent national attention in which a female Cornell student alleged seven male students sexually assaulted her.
“Let’s hang her from a ligh(t) post and let the birds pick at her brains for days,” another message stated. “…Let’s make her life hell.”
One shared what appeared to be a violent, edited image.
Timberline High students cross the street to participate in a walkout. Sarah A. Miller smiller@idahostatesman.com
Several students expressed fear Wednesday at finding out they attended school with people who chatted about wanting to do such things.
“It’s just very, very scary to see that these people are walking amongst us, and they go to school with us,” Maia Al Mushrefawi, a junior, told the Statesman at the walkout. “They have classes with us. We know them personally, and seeing that they are that type of person, it’s just terrifying and disturbing.”
When sophomore Haddie McCandless found out about the messages at school on Friday, she said, her initial feelings of “unbelievable anger” soon turned to something more.
“Then there becomes like a wave of fear, and you’re like, ‘Oh my gosh, I go to school with people that are doing these things,’ ” McCandless said. “It really is just kind of overwhelming.”
Seniors Autumn Martin and Sydnee Crabtree told the Statesman that they had also experienced violent or threatening behavior from male students at Timberline. Crabtree said she left Timberline last year after the school did not help her.
“The school tried to cover it up, and then I left for Borah High School,” Crabtree said. “There are girls that I’m friends with here who constantly have these things happen to them, and then it’s like nothing happens (to the male students).”
Students held signs asking for action from school administrators. Sarah A. Miller smiller@idahostatesman.com Timberline officials contact police, cancel football game
Timberline announced Tuesday night that it was forfeiting Thursday’s homecoming football game against Kuna. All other homecoming activities were postponed except for the dance, which will include additional security, Timberline Principal Chad Wright and school district officials said in an email to parents and staff.
“Everybody was going to boycott it anyway,” senior Rylee Singleton said of the game. “… For the people on the team who are not a part of this issue, I feel that it’s just saving them from being harassed by people who do go.”
Student Ellie Hall launched a petition calling for administrative action on Saturday. The petition had garnered more than 12,000 signatures as of Wednesday afternoon.
The Boise Police Department told the Statesman on Sunday that it was conducting an investigation into the messages. The Boise School District said it learned about the messages Friday and contacted law enforcement that same day. School officials planned to conduct their own investigation once police were done, according to the district.
“Boise Police asked us to pause any internal action until the reported threats had been reviewed and investigated by law enforcement, so as not to jeopardize any potential criminal investigation,” the district said.
The walkout took place on the sidewalk across from Timberline High School. Sarah A. Miller smiller@idahostatesman.com