High school students hold their own impeachment proceedings at Edward Kennedy Institute

BOSTON — It’s a historic day in the nation’s capital as Senators voted on whether or not to remove President Donald Trump from office.

But local students didn’t need to travel to Washington, D.C. for a front seat to the vote.

They were able to have their own right here in Boston, inside the Edward Kennedy Institute.

The Institute houses a full-scaled replica of the U.S. Senate Chamber in Washington, D.C.

On Wednesday, high schoolers were cast to represent each state, and conduct their own impeachment trial.

As the real Senators voted on impeachment articles, so did they.

It was a mock session, but it’s a real reflection of the current state of politics, as the real senators voted on impeachment articles.

“It is such a huge historical moment, hopefully something they won’t see again in their lifetime,” said Glen Fant, a teacher at Arlington High School.

In the mock trial, students convicted the President of abuse of power.

“You didn’t hear a lot of applause even though a lot of students in that room where not a fan of President Trump. They recognize that this a solemn sad phase that we are even at this point,” Fant said.

Their teacher said this presidency has his students engaged.

“It’s important to follow because its such an important part of our democracy,” said Chloe Keyes, a sophomore at Arlington High School.

That includes the State of the Union’s high drama.

"It just shows the divide we have, between Trump and Pelosi. It’s kind of where we are as a country,” said Noah Sweder, a junior at Arlington High School.

But for students like Noah, a day like today has inspired him to bridge that divide.

“My heart was pounding when I got up there to talk,” he said.

Just like the man who sat in this seat, for whom the Institute is named.

“That was Sen. Edward Kennedy’s hope and dream: to establish the institute,” said Caroline Angel-Burke of the Edward M. Kennedy Institute. “He wanted everybody to feel like what it is to be a senator and step on that floor of the Senate and feel that power. It is the magic that happens in immersive education.”

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