Walkout At Homer High School

Last week, on March 14, National School Walkout Day was held in honor of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Originally, students and teachers were going to walk out of the school and stay outside for seventeen minutes. For safety reasons, however, Homer High School organized a gathering and remembrance of the seventeen victims of the Florida school shooting.

From 10:00 AM until 10:17 AM on March 14, students and teachers gathered in the auditorium to show our sympathy to the victims who passed away in Florida during a school shooting. As there were some who were not comfortable with leaving class, another way Homer School showed sympathy was by wearing Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School’s colors: maroon, white, and silver.

When entering the auditorium, participants sat down and were given an introduction from the walkout leaders. The speech brought the realization to many students that no one stands alone, especially at Homer High School.

Afterwards, a YouTube/PBS clip was presented, giving a description about all the victims of this shooting. Upon watching this video, it was absolutely heartbreaking, but worth watching to understand the devastation.

In the front of the auditorium, there was a banner for anyone willing to sign their name to show their support. After walking back to their seats, everyone stood in silence for six minutes. Some might not know this, but the reason for six minutes was to show how much time it took to take seventeen lives and cause a horrific devastation.

To anyone interested in having their voice heard, information was provided to contact politicians to express your beliefs. If you were unable to get a sheet, the information to have your voice heard is provided below.

Overall, this was a very powerful way to see active participants from Homer High School coming together; no one stood alone in this movement.

Mayor of Homer: Hal McCabe

(607) 749-3322

Mayor@homerny.org

31 North Main Street

Homer, NY 13077

Mayor of Cortland: Brian Tobin

(607) 753- 0872

Mayor@cortland.org

25 Court Street

Cortland, NY 13045

U.S. House of Representatives:

Claudia Tenney

(315) 732- 0713

(607) 723- 3581

https://tenney.house.gov/contact/

478 Russell Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20515

John Katko

(202) 224- 6542

https://katko.house.gov/contact/email

1620 Longworth House Office Building

Washington, DC 20510

NYS Assembly:

Barbara Lifton

(607) 277- 8030

(518) 455- 5444

LOB 555

Albany, NY 12248

Gary Finch

(315) 255- 3045

(518) 455- 5878

LOB 448

Albany, NY 12248

U.S. Senators:

Kirsten Gillibrand

(202) 224- 4451

512 Cannon House Office Building

Washington, DC 20510

Charles Schumer

(202) 255- 3501

322 Hart Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20510