On Wednesday, March 14, 2018, thousands of students across the United States walked out of class in a show of solidarity for stricter gun laws. A generation raised in a world where school shootings are becoming the norm put their foot down and said “enough” after the horrifying Valentine's Day shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida that took the lives of 17 people.
Starting around 10 am, students around the country walked out of class for 17 minutes to symbolize one minute for each life lost in the Parkland shooting. While these peaceful walkouts had caused some concern for students, who were afraid they would be penalized for participating, children of all ages made sure their voices were heard through creative signs and moving speeches.
Chants and rallying cries for reform could be heard, with students calling on government officials and the White House to make concrete steps toward preventing future violence. Specifically, the National Student Walkout is calling for Congress to make three specific changes: ban assault weapons, require universal background checks to purchase guns, and pass a gun violence restraining order that would allow the court to strip people of weapons if they display signs of violent behavior.
“This is not a matter of left versus right. This is a matter of public safety,” Cate Whitman, a junior at LaGuardia High School in New York, told CNN. “We're all working together, which is something we haven't seen from the adults in a very long time.”
Thousands of students across America walked out of class in a show of solidarity for the #EnoughIsEnough movement.
Exeter High School 10th grader Jack Anderson at today’s #NationalSchoolWalkout @seacoastonline pic.twitter.com/QDLoYF7KQQ
— Hadley Barndollar (@hbarndollar) March 14, 2018
— David Mack (@davidmackau) March 14, 2018
These students from Bethesda Chevy Chase High School in MD did *not* get permission to come out here, did it anyway. #NationalSchoolWalkout pic.twitter.com/FFeK7q2HBy
— Nathalie Baptiste (@nhbaptiste) March 14, 2018
One of signs at Inman MS in Atlanta for #NationalWalkoutDay pic.twitter.com/9MvYwPEmyy
— Steve Gehlbach (@SteveGWSB) March 14, 2018
Creative and emotional protest signs focus on the rallying cry around stricter gun laws to reduce school shootings.
A student named Alex has brought this sign to the #NationalSchoolWalkout in DC pic.twitter.com/Et630jrJQ8
— Kayla Epstein (@KaylaEpstein) March 14, 2018
Albany High senior Ashma Thapa said she was not allowed to march with this sign, which the school deemed too political. “Can you get a photo of me with it anyway?” she asked. #nationalschoolwalkout #enough #NationalWalkoutDay pic.twitter.com/VxRifSy8AF
— Bethany Bump (@bethanybump) March 14, 2018
Atlanta 8th grader made this sign for #NationalSchoolWalkout that starts in 5 min pic.twitter.com/q7Qs6bQ0OT
— Steve Gehlbach (@SteveGWSB) March 14, 2018
Stop sending us to school to die#Enough #NationalWalkoutDay pic.twitter.com/R8txeyiVvz
— Mari Copeny (@LittleMissFlint) March 14, 2018