Most students only have to wait for a few minutes for their bus to arrive, but that was not the case for some Indiana Public Schools (IPS) students three weeks ago. The recent IPS bus protest left several students stranded at school for nearly two hours; trying to find another way home.With new policies in place this year, Fishers is subject to voicing its opinion on them also.“As long as it is peaceful, then you have the right to do it,” said Resource Officer Matt Runhow.The right to protest and to have freedom of speech are protected under law (under the First Amendment). But according to Runhow, the moment that the protest becomes either a harm to oneself or others, the law no longer applies and law enforcement must intervene.While the protesting bus drivers did not physically hurt the students by not showing up to work that day, the students were still caught in the protest’s crossfire. The message was directed towards the IPS school board but instead inconvenienced the students more than the protest’s target.“It interfered with the students’ right to learn,” senior Ashley Taylor said. “The bus for some students may be the only way to and from school because their parents might not have the arrangements to take them, and missing school because they’re late or don’t have a ride affects that.”

Taylor believes that it would be possible for a bus protest to happen here as well. It would have to come down to certain conditions though.

“It could definitely. If the working conditions or pay are that bad, or there’s just a problem with something in general, then they have the right to say or do something about it,” Taylor said.