America has awakened a sleeping giant. They’re mad as hell and they’re not going to take it anymore. They are the youth of the US, also known as modern-day activists and the future voters who took to the streets Wednesday during a National School Walkout to demand gun reform NOW!
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It was a day targeted at a generation of older, conservative politicians who are so controlled by and afraid of the National Rifle Association, that they’d rather see more school shooting deaths and dead kids than dare go up against the all-powerful gun group. Well, those politicians have now been put on notice by students who were willing to march in the streets to force a change to America’s sick obsession with guns.
On Wednesday, March 14th, exactly one month after the deadly shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL, thousands of students and teachers from Los Angeles to Long Island walked out of their classrooms as part of the #Enough! National School Walkout to raise awareness regarding the issues of school safety and the impact of gun violence. The nationwide march was organized by Women’s March Youth Empower and began at 10am local time across the country. Each march lasted 17 minutes, in honor of each of the victims of the Florida school shooting.
According to the website, organizers said they wanted the protest to be a call to action for Congress to pass gun control legislation.
“We view this work as part of an ongoing and decades-long movement for gun violence prevention, in honor of all victims of gun violence — from James Brady to Trayvon Martin to the 17 people killed in Parkland,” the website stated.
Organizers asked everyone to wear orange for the day, which is the color associated with gun violence prevention. For those non-students or teachers who wanted to participate, they were asked to walk out of their workplace or even their homes for 17 minutes of solidarity. Supporters were also strongly encouraged to register to vote.
For their part, Viacom, the parent company of MTV, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, and others, chose to do more than merely voice their support. The media conglomerate conducted a virtual walkout and suspended all programming on each of its networks by going dark for 17 minutes in support of the National School Walkout.
At exactly 10am across time zones, participants began to make their presence known.
Students at Columbine High School in Littleton, CO, site of the deadly school shooting that left 13 dead nearly 19 years ago, were eager participants in the National School Walkout.
“We have grown up watching more tragedies occur and continuously asking: Why? Why does this keep happening?” one student tweeted.
The walkout at Columbine High School just wrapped. “We have grown up watching more tragedies occur and continuously asking: Why? Why does this keep happening?” pic.twitter.com/nxh3osWuFq
— julieturkewitz (@julieturkewitz) March 14, 2018
In Boise, Idaho, students protested outside of the Idaho statehouse, shouting “Protect kids not guns,” while at Lakeside High School in Georgia, students carried placards that read: WE ARE THE FUTURE. WE ARE THE NOW. WE ARE THE CHANGE.
In Los Angeles, students at Granada Hills Charter High School walked out and spelled “#ENOUGH” on the football field. In Pennsylvania, more than 200 students walked out and formed an enormous number 17 to represent those killed last month.
At a school in North Carolina, student Justin Blackman didn’t allow the fact that he was the only one out of 700 students willing to march to deter him.
“I’m walking out for the national school walk out,” he said he told his teacher. “And he just let me go.”
Shortly thereafter, the brave teen uploaded a video to social media, saying “Umm… hello Twitter. It’s National Walkout Day. I’m the only one from my school out here.”
Wow I’m literally the only one #NationalSchoolWalkout pic.twitter.com/2F95qY2vTI
— Justin Blackman (@JustinIBlackman) March 14, 2018
When the 17 minutes were up, Justin went back inside, hoping he wouldn’t get in trouble. He didn’t, and someone from the school even congratulated him.
“Now, I truly know that one person is all it takes,” he said while reflecting on the experience. “No matter the age, skin color, gender—it doesn’t matter.”
Although they will stage their own March For Our Lives rally in Washington next week, students from the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School were the most prominent participants of the National School Walkout.
“By more than one school doing this, it shows politicians and lawmakers that we want change to happen,” senior Audrey Diaz said. “And the next generation is prepared to make that happen.”
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Regrettably, not every school across the country was in support of National School Walkout Day.
Board of Education President Kevin Ciak of the Sayreville Public School District in New Jersey said the act of walking out would be considered “willful disobedience” and a “failure to follow administrative direction.” He encouraged local principals to punish student participants with detention and/or suspension.
The Atlanta suburb of Cobb County said they intend to take disciplinary action against protesting students — ranging from Saturday school to 5 days’ suspension, per district guidelines.
Officials at Campbell High School in Georgia, also warned that students who chose to “disrupt the normal operation of a school may be subject to consequences.”
Still, despite the threat of punishment and with the encouragement of their parents and, in some cases, their teachers, students from coast to coast were undeterred and willing to risk in order to create change and prove that they mean business.
Students say they are demanding 3 key actions from Congress and will not rest until they receive:
– A ban on assault weapons;
– Required universal background checks before gun sales;
– The passing of a gun violence restraining order law that would allow courts to disarm people who display warning signs of violent behavior.
Could this be the chosen generation that pulls a “David and Goliath” and finally topples the NRA and forces gun reform?
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Thanks DJ for covering this! I think it’s such an incredible story unfolding. Those young people were/are quite amazing….especially those like the young man who was the only one in his school to walk out! I am so impressed with the Courage displayed by ALL of the students who bravely participated in the “Walk Out” for gun reform, which included the “younginz” in my own family. On a personal note – I do not have children but I am a mighty proud *Aunt*…lol And I marvel at what their generation is doing. The upcoming “March For Our Lives” in DC on March 24th will be strong indicator of just how United AND determined that youth-led movement really is. DJ asked: “Could this be the chosen generation that pulls a “David and Goliath” and finally topples the NRA and forces gun reform?” Time will tell. But I’ve gotta say, I’m really… Read more »