Instead of marching through the streets to protest the police shooting of a black teen in Ferguson or the acquittal of a man in Florida who shot and killed a black 17-year-old, students at a North Portland high school decided to make their voices heard in another way.

Through poetry, videos, rap lyrics and questions, students filled an auditorium Tuesday to describe what they think about about racial tensions and policing in their community and beyond.

They invited Mayor Charlie Hales, Portland Police Chief Larry O'Dea and retired Oregon Chief Justice Paul DeMuniz to be their guests.

D.J. Simpson, 18, a senior at De La Salle North Catholic High School, pulled the hood of his sweatshirt over his head, and joined with math teacher Brian Mayer, who donned shades, to recite rap lyrics they wrote. They sent a direct message to the city's top cop and elected official that local students' experiences don't mirror those depicted on the popular TV show "Portlandia."

"I live north of Portlandia,'' Simpson said. "If Portland's neighbors were represented by elementary children, I'm the quiet kid in the back. The one you know nothing about.''

Mayer, also a rabbi, continued the rap: "I'm a teacher and a preacher, and the students I try to reach her, but they don't see themselves reflected. Respected. They are circumvented. Mister Mayor, Chief, PoPo and yours Honor, children feel neglected.''

Student Fevan Solomon, a senior, played a video she made that filmed students responding to her question: "When you see a policeman, what's the first thing that pops into your mind?''

The answers were as diverse as the student body: "Is my seat belt on?'' said one. "Uncomfortable,'' said another. "Hands up, don't shoot!'' "Caution.'' "I think I'm in trouble.''

One student teacher said she worried she'd be pulled over because she admitted she's a bad driver, drawing plenty of laughs.

"I get scared, nervous usually,'' said another.

"I think of a person who's taking time out of their day to save the world, protect us,'' one boy said.

"Fear, I don't want to do anything to provoke them,'' one said.

Another boy said, "A person who is not really here to serve me. I think that police officers really abuse their power and don't know when to help.''

And then there was the sister of Portland police Officer Colleen Waibel, who was fatally shot on duty in 1998 during a drug raid, who said she thinks of Waibel's "sacrifice to make the world a better place.'' Polly Waibel teaches religious studies at the school.

The students spoke of their concerns about racial profiling, officers looking at them as suspicious because of the color of their skin, about the impact of gentrification on their community and the account of police using a stun gun on a Roosevelt High School student.

De La Salle student Jack Burr asked the police chief how bias plays a role in policing.

"In a very huge way, our country continues to struggle with how race impacts all our governmental institutions,'' O'Dea said. That's why, he said, he's working to increase the diversity among his officers and command staff, and has hired an equity manager to examine all police recruitment, hiring and training practices through an equity lens.

"We still have a bureau that's mostly male and mostly white,'' the mayor said, though police are making strides in hiring more women and minorities. He added that the bureau next week plans to swear in its first officer of Somali descent.

Asked about the shooting death of unarmed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin by a neighborhood block watch captain in Florida, the mayor responded, "We see injustice there. All of us do.''

Hales said it's important for police officers to build personal relationships with residents to restore a sense of trust.

"We have to understand the community better and they have to understand what police do,'' Hales said. He encouraged students to become engaged in city politics as soon-to-be voters and aware of state legislation. He called the country "awash in guns,'' and said the city is lobbying lawmakers to pass legislation this session that would require background checks for private sales of guns.

The students asked the city leaders how they felt when they watched Solomon's video that captured students' feelings about police.

"Sadness,'' O'Dea said.

He told the crowd that he knew when he was very young that he wanted to become a police officer to help people. But it's clear from the video, he said, that a segment of the community doesn't' feel secure around the police.

He said he wanted to share the video with his officers because its obvious, "we're not getting it done all the time.''

The mayor said he reacted to the students' fears and concerns as a parent would.

"I don't want anybody's son or daughter to walk down our streets scared,'' Hales said.

DeMuniz, hired by the city to chair a community advisory board that's tracking the city's compliance with a U.S. Department of Justice settlement on police reforms, relayed how painful it was for him to read a book recently about the history of the civil rights movement.

After listening to the students' concerns, DeMuniz added, "The struggle still continues. It's not over.''

Senior Khadija Bruce, bowing her head, then led the student body in a final prayer, before heading to lunch. "Ground us in compassion and help us build a more just community,'' she said.

--Maxine Bernstein

503-221-8212 ; @maxoregonian