STUDENTS protested in Stanhope Park yesterday due to frustrations surrounding the college’s alleged lack of support following reports of sexual assaults, and opinions were very mixed on social media.

Here’s what readers had to say:

Adam Bellew said: “Good to see students using their right to protest.”

Scott Vallely said: “If you’re being sexually assaulted, you should be going to the police not the head of the college.”

The Northern Echo: Roughly 85 students from QE Sixth Form College walked out of class to protest in Stanhope Park. Picture: SARAH CALDECOTTRoughly 85 students from QE Sixth Form College walked out of class to protest in Stanhope Park. Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT

Read more: As it happened: Students at Darlington sixth form stage mass walkout

Lyn Madheed Barron said: “Always stand up for what you believe in, even if it means standing alone.”

Maria Rose said: “The spoilt and mollycoddled generation.”

Angela Templeton said: “Good on them I'm pleased to see young people making a stand for something that's not right.”

The Northern Echo: Walking through the park, students chanted "We will not be silenced." Picture: SARAH CALDECOTTWalking through the park, students chanted "We will not be silenced." Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT

Read more: Darlington sixth form college issues statement after 85 students stage walkout

Matthew Firth said: “If any of the students have been sexually assaulted, they should go to the police. Have they done that? I hope so. Hopefully any perpetrators will be brought to justice. One of the problems with this latest instance of protest is that some people want the legal definition of sexual assault to be so wide that it is rendered ridiculous.”

Nicky Dawson said: “We should all know how to defend our rights and those of others. Protesting is a student institution and a learning milestone. Hats off young people.”

Read more: Why 85 students walked out of Darlington sixth form today

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