Mar. 14, one month after the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, students around the country participated in a national school walkout in honor of the 17 victims who lost their lives. 

  In Parkland, Fla., Wednesday, Feb. 14, Nikolas Cruz, 19, entered Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, armed with an AR-15 semi-automatic assault-style rifle and multiple magazines. Cruz pulled the fire alarm and fired at students and teachers, killing 17 and wounding 17 others. Following the shooting, students began speaking out against gun violence, leading them to organize a national school walkout Mar. 14.

  The HSEHS walkout, organized by five students, took place at 10 o’clock in the morning. Students were instructed by organizers to stand up, walk out of class and meet in the Varsity gym, where there were to be three speakers and a minute of silence for the 17 victims who lost their lives in Parkland.

  The intentions of the walkout were made clear at the beginning by senior Joe Bergin; it was not to make a political stance but to honor 17 lives that were lost on Feb. 14 and the lives of victims of other mass shootings that have occurred in the United States.

  “Our voice is meaningful, and we must convey it in the best way possible, such as organizations like this one, where we can convey what we think in a respectful way and incur change that needs to happen,” junior Laura Stancato said. “I urge you to take a stance with us, and this is the first step. Thank you for meeting us here for 17 minutes to honor the 17 lives that were lost one month ago. In doing so, we must not forget the lives lost at Columbine, at Sandy Hook and at any other school shooting that has occurred in our country.”

  Senior Madeline Kennedy expressed her views on gun violence in schools across the nation throughout history, and threats made at HSEHS and FHS on Wednesday, Sept. 20 of last year.

  “I am a cadet teacher for second graders at Geist Elementary,” Kennedy said. “Sept. 2017, all HSE schools were on lockdown due to a bomb threat at both high schools. As our entire school evacuated to the football field, I didn’t contact my parents, or my boyfriend or my best friends. The first thing I did was text my teacher for cadet teaching and asked if my kids were okay,” Kennedy said. “I was more scared for my seven-year-old kids than I was for myself, even though the bomb threat was here. Imagining putting my kids in a situation like Sandy Hook is what I fear most about being a future teacher. I shouldn’t have to fear my career as a teacher, and my students should never fear to come to what is known as a safe place to earn their education.”

  The five students who organized the event also encouraged students to speak out against gun violence in schools.

  “If any of you are here wanting a change, a peaceful protest is the first step,” Kennedy said. “The next step is to contact our senators and to contact [the] House of Representatives and to let them know how we feel and how we want a change. I want this change to continue, so we can never see this happen again, and to provide safety for schools around the country.”

  Students who attended the walkout chose to come in support of the victims of the Florida school shooting.

  “[Gun violence] can happen to any school,” junior Mahek Chougule said. “Even though we feel safe, there’s always a possibility for something to happen. I wanted to be here to make a change.”

  Along with attending in support of victims from past school shootings, some students also chose to attend the walkout to express their views on gun violence.

  “Nowhere is immune to gun violence,” senior Ian Nowlin said. “As long as an 18-year-old can walk into any gun store and buy an AR-15, gun violence can happen anywhere, in Indiana or Florida.”

  The walkout ended with a statement made by Bergin, clarifying and summarizing why it was important for students to meet and walk out, and a banner for students to sign in support for the students at Stoneman Douglas.

  “Let’s talk about mental health; let’s talk about the safety of our schools; let’s talk about the police forces and what can be done to improve all aspects of how to prevent school shootings,” Bergin said. “If we don’t talk about it, they won’t know.”