Fifth-Graders to be Honored for SeaWorld Activism

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Fifth-grader Kirra Kotler and classmates at Point Dume Marine Science School who reportedly protested a SeaWorld field trip are set to be honored by the Malibu City Council on Monday for their activism.

The field trip was cancelled in December after Kotler brought the documentary “Blackfish” to the attention of her classmates. The documentary tells the story of a massive orca whale named Tilikum, a male with a history of aggression that killed a trainer at the Orlando SeaWorld theme park in 2010. Prior to the 2010 incident, Tilikum had already been associated with the deaths of two other people. 

After a survey of parents found that several students would not participate in the annual trip, which is typically scheduled for March, Principal Rebecca Johnson said she decided to cancel and instead search for a trip that would include every student. 

The City Council on Monday will present Kotler and classmates with a commendation for “taking a stand against mistreatment of killer whales in captivity,” according to the agenda report.