The recent shooting in Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida on Feb. 14 has led to a National Walk Out on March 14th. This school shooting left 17 kids dead and the student survivors of the event have decided to not wait for change. Instead, they are making sure their voices are heard. To do this, thousands of other school have joined from all around the world to participate in the walkout and to make sure the government and world understand how important school safety is.  

What exactly are the students protesting for?

First, the organizers of the National Walk Out on the 14th are the “Women’s March’s Youth EMPOWER group”. The march was organized to do more than send out tweets and prayers in response to gun violence towards schools and neighborhoods. The marches were organized to take action and demand Congress pass legislation to keep us safe from gun violence at our schools, on our streets,in our homes and at places of worship (“Enough”). 

March on the 20th

In Natick MA, the march was postponed until March 20th because of snow. The walk out was led by seniors at Natick High School. There was talk of walking to the gym for the 17 min walk out but a foot of snow won’t stop the Natick students from showing their concern about school safety. Many students who participated in the event were holding signs promoting school safety and their concerns. The walk out consisted of singing and speeches, and it was truly inspirational to hear how the shooting in Parkland is affecting students all the way in Natick. There were three different perspectives highlighted in the speech. The speakers at the event Caroline Hinrichs, Hallie Gordan, Alex Grace, and Vicki Carmenate. One perspective was that of a Natick student who has a cousin who goes to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida who had lost two close friends in the shooting. Another of a person who has always been interested in the news and global events who was horrified by what happened in Parkland. The last perspective was of a student concerned about our school safety and who feels that our school needs to do more to resolve the concerns of the students. 

Conclusion

By looking from the outside we all say there is no way anything like this could happen in my school, however the shootings in Parkland and all over America prove that it could happen in any school. This doesn't mean we need to be scared of going to school, this means that we should live our lives to the fullest. Students felt that the adults were not doing enough to stop school gun violence so they are taking it into their own hands to make a change. Help make a change in your community.

Source:

“ENOUGH: National School Walkout.” Action Network, www.actionnetwork.org/event_campaigns/enough-national-school-walkout.