Multiple student walkouts have been planned across the nation by various groups. All of them have the same goal: advocating for gun control.
Student-Led Gun Control Walkout
A smaller walkout, planned by students, will take place sometime next week, the group said in a tweet on Twitter. They will make their plans known on Monday the 19th.
Women's March Involvement
Women's March organizers have launched the #Enough campaign, which calls for students to walk out of their classrooms on March 14th.
According to ABC 7, the march will take place on the one month anniversary of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting that took place in Florida. It will last 17 minutes as a way of remembering the 17 lives that were lost on February 14th.
From the group's event page:
Women’s March Youth EMPOWER is calling for students, teachers, school administrators, parents and allies to take part in a #NationalSchoolWalkout for 17 minutes at 10am across every time zone on March 14, 2018 to protest Congress’ inaction to do more than tweet thoughts and prayers in response to the gun violence plaguing our schools and neighborhoods. We need action. Students and allies are organizing the national school walkout to demand Congress pass legislation to keep us safe from gun violence at our schools, on our streets and in our homes and places of worship.
Students and staff have the right to teach and learn in an environment free from the worry of being gunned down in their classrooms or on their way home from school.
Parents have the right to send their kids to school in the mornings and see them home alive at the end of the day.
We are not safe at school. We are not safe in our cities and towns. Congress must take meaningful action to keep us safe and pass federal gun reform legislation that address the public health crisis of gun violence. We want Congress to pay attention and take note: many of us will vote this November and many others will join in 2020.
Join us in saying #ENOUGH!
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The Women's March website also features a map of planned walkouts nationwide.
The group is using their large network of social media followers to get the word out about their plans.
And celebrities are pushing the walkouts as well.
The Columbine Anniversary Walkout
Another group has planned a National School Walkout on April 20th, the anniversary of the Columbine High School shooting that took place in 1999.
On Friday, April 20th we want students to attend school and then promptly WALK-OUT at 10:00 am. Sit outside your schools and peacefully protest. Make some noise. Voice your thoughts. "We are students, we are victims, we are change."
— National School Walkout (@schoolwalkoutUS) February 17, 2018
The group also has a petition on change.org, which they are asking students to sign if they plan on participating in the walkout.
From the petition:
We are the students, we are the victims, we are change, fight gun violence now! High School students across the U.S.A, the way to fight back is here. There has been too much complacency on the part of politicians when it comes to gun violence. The time to act is now!
Public school shootings affect communities and especially teenagers. On February, 14th a High School shooting in Parkland, Florida occurred, killing 17 people. Still, POTUS has not addressed any form of gun legislation. The majority of teenagers have no right to vote, leaving our voice unheard. The government does not hear or care how these tragedies affect our lives. Seven children and teens are killed with guns in the U.S. on an average day (https://everytownresearch.org). The violence of guns is being performed in our schools and our communities. Not the Senate floor. As the future of America, it is time for teenagers to speak their minds and put their frustration into action.
The Plan:
On Friday, April 20th, the 19th anniversary of the Columbine shooting I propose a National High School student walk out. Walk out of school, wear orange and protest online and in your communities. Sign the petition if you pledge to do so. Nothing has changed since Columbine, let us start a movement that lets the government know the time for change is now. #nationalschoolwalkout
As of now, the petition has just over 20,000 signatures.
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