Tom Ridge speaks at Blair, students protest

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The Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge and Secretary of Education Rod Paige visited Montgomery Blair High School today, March 7, 2003 to congratulate Blair on its success with Code Blue and Red procedures.

The speakers also announced that a new website dealing with the threat of terrorism has been created for school systems.

To protest Ridge's arrival as a representative of President Bush's administration, over 350 protestors marched around Blair and rallied at the University entrance outside of the main office 5A lunch. Student protesters missing class were given unexcused absences.

The protestors were led by Student for Peace and Justice, a county-wide school organization against the war.

Students from Blake, Springfield, Paint Branch, Richard Montgomery, Bethesda Chevy Chase and the University of Maryland came to support the protest.