Advocacy groups are planning additional public gatherings this week as the fallout continues from the Friday protest that led to the arrest of five Quakertown Community High School students.
Upper Bucks United Indivisible has announced a “Peaceful Gathering to Support the Quakertown 5” scheduled for Thursday at 6 p.m. outside the Quakertown Community School District Administration Building, 100 Commerce Dr.
The gathering will be followed at 7 p.m. by the Quakertown Community School District Board of Directors meeting, which is scheduled to run up to four hours.
Watch the livestream the school board meeting Thursday on YouTube here.
On Friday, a week removed from the incident, the Doylestown Action League will host a “Rally for the Quakertown 5” at 4:30 p.m. at the corner of Court and Main streets in Doylestown Borough.
Organizers said they will collect gift cards, cash donations and messages of support for the students and their families.
Join the 810-member-strong Doylestown Action League Facebook group here.
Fundraising nears six figures
As of 1 p.m. Wednesday, a GoFundMe campaign supporting the students’ legal defense had raised $95,359 toward a $175,000 goal, with more than 2,100 donations in four days.
At Friday’s rally, supporters will collect:
For those unable to attend Friday, donations may be mailed to: Quakertown Families c/o Betsy, P.O. Box 162, Buckingham, PA 18912.
Joint statement criticizes borough council
In a statement drafted Tuesday following the packed Quakertown Borough Council meeting, Upper Bucks United, Bucks Indivisible and The Woori Center expressed solidarity with the students and sharply criticized borough leadership.
“Upper Bucks United is deeply disappointed in the conduct of the Quakertown borough council following last night’s meeting,” the statement read. “Dozens of residents called for the immediate suspension or termination of police chief and borough manager Scott McElree – and the board remained silent.”
The groups said community members repeatedly urged council to make a motion to place McElree’s removal on the agenda for a vote, but no such motion was made.
“Walking into a school does not abolish your constitutional rights,” the statement continued. “Peaceful protest is one of the most American acts there is. These young people are not just our future; they are our heroes. We will not stop fighting until justice is served.”
The statement also urged residents to pressure borough officials by writing, emailing or calling borough offices, and to attend Thursday night’s school board meeting to demand answers regarding the district’s response and the involvement of police.
Two teens still in custody
As previously reported, three of the five arrested students were released Tuesday following juvenile detention hearings. As of the latest public update, two students remain unaccounted for in court disclosures, and officials have not clarified whether they remain in detention.
The Bucks County District Attorney’s Office continues to investigate the confrontation between student protesters and Quakertown Police Chief Scott McElree. Community demands for McElree’s suspension or resignation have intensified in recent days, with public pressure now extending beyond Quakertown into neighboring municipalities.
More updates are expected following Thursday night’s school board meeting.
