Political parade or class assignment
With a bull horn, homemade "Bush in 2004" t-shirts, and signs touting Bush and Cheney in 2004, they thought they were exercising their civic rights and getting a grade.
But what eight teens also learned Thursday afternoon was they were breaking the law.
The teens said two High Point Police officers told them to leave unless they had a city permit.
"We didn't know you needed a permit to do this," said Joey Packheiser, a senior at Bishop McGuiness in Kernersville. "We aren't old enough to vote, so that's why we have to campaign."
The students, six seniors at Bishop McGuiness, and two students from Mount Tabor High School in Winston-Salem, were working on a project for their politics class. To get a grade they needed to complete 15 hours of volunteer service with a political party during the upcoming election.
For three weeks, the students stood along the sidewalk waving at cars along Main Street. Some honked, others pulled over to argue politics with the teens.
But according to the city's ordinance, any group that gathers in a city public right-of-way, needs to obtain a parade permit.
"We certainly don't want to frustrate school children," said High Point City Attorney Fred Baggett. "But we have an ordinance and have to work within it."
The High Point Republican Party filed for a permit with the city on Friday, said Genea Blackwell, a party volunteer.
The permit would take a few days to clear through the transportation department and the police department.
But with the elections in just four days, the group may not have time to wait.
"If we can't get a permit, I guess we won't be back," said Andrea Smith, a senior at Bishop McGuiness.
Blackwell said the party may have a demonstration at the party headquarters on Rockspring Road.