JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Some Duval County students used their day off Monday to protest outside the school district’s headquarters on the Southbank. Dozens of students and other activists gathered outside the main office of Duval County Public Schools Monday afternoon calling for more emphasis on Black history in schools and more input from Black students. Black students Matter. Duval County Public High Schools has an African-American history “Exemplary School District” designation. The Duval County school district says peaceful protests are allowed in school.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – After Sandalwood High School students took to the hallways on Wednesday in protest of the district’s “You Matter Month” campaign, more demonstrations were held Friday on campuses across the district. Students rallied again at Sandalwood, as well as at First Coast High School, Fletcher High School, Andrew Jackson High School and others. The main target of all the demonstrations is the district’s “You Matter Month” campaign which they say takes away from Black History Month and, at the same time, high-jacks the “Black Lives Matter” phrasing. “We want more Black history to be in the curriculum, we want it to be more important,” Sandalwood student Milka Fanord said. In fact, DCPS is listed as one of only nine “exemplary districts” by Florida for how it provides Black history education.