B.C. high school cancels student trip to New York over U.S. political turmoil

A high school in Richmond, B.C. has cancelled a student trip to New York City, citing concerns with the unpredictable political climatein the U.S.

R.A. McMath Secondary School had planned to send 36 students and several staff chaperones to the Big Apple this spring.

However, after a rise in protests following President Donald Trump's inauguration last month,staff were apprehensive about the "potential" for further demonstrationsposing a danger to students.

After "careful" deliberation, travel plans were ultimately cancelled this week,principal Neil Kamide said.

"Even under normal conditions, sponsoring student travelis an extremely stressful endeavour for staff itis a 24/7 role with the staff members tasked with ensuringthe safety of all students under their care," he told CBC News.

"As the climate in parts of the U.S. is shifting and events and situationsseem to be unfolding quickly, our staff currentlyfeels uncomfortable in both moving forward, as well aswaiting to see if the situation changes."

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Kamide said the decision to cancel was made swiftly, in part, to ensure that students and their families could still be refunded for travel expenses. He said the school was "on the hook for a little bit of money," but insisted that students wouldn't be asked to pay those fees.

Protests in NYC

On Jan. 21 the day after Trump's inauguration more thana million people took part in the Women's March on Washington from across North America.

In New York alone, more than 400,000people turned out to thedemonstration, focused oncivil liberties, immigration, reproductive rights and intolerance.

A week later, more protests broke out after Trump signedan executive order barring people from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the U.S.

Thousandsgathered outside a Terminal 4atJohn F. Kennedy International Airport to argue the ban and showsupport for Muslim and refugee communities.

(Kamide said some students that had signed up for the trip to New York were of mixed-race, but that wasn't a factor in the decision to cancel.)

Both demonstrations as well asothers were peaceful, but Kamide said he and his colleagueswere still hesitant.

"Thus, it is with sadness, we have chosen to cancel," the principalsaid.

Kamide said it's unlikely the trip will be rescheduled before the end of the school year. However, he said travelling to New York isa tradition at the schooland students who missed out this year will be invited back in 2018.