About 100 Brunswick High School students walked out of class Thursday to protest gun violence in the nation’s schools. The demonstration comes a little over a month since 17 people were shot and killed at a Parkland, Florida high school
Brunswick students said they wanted to start a conversation that would help prevent future violence.
Students had planned to do the walkout in conjunction with a national event Wednesday morning. Many local events were postponed when schools were canceled due to a winter storm, however.
On Thursday, many students carried signs with messages such as “Me next?,” “Protect kids not guns,” “How many more,” “Enough is enough” and “Never again.”
Some students addressed their peers, who filled the bleachers on one side of the gymnasium before marching around the school.
“I know I am not alone in saying what I think about the current state of our country,” said senior Cordelia Horch, addressing her classmates. “I feel a little discouraged, a little scared and very overwhelmed. The issue of gun violence here seems nearly impossible to fix and the more we search, the more unachievable a solution seems to be.”
Yet the reaction to the Parkland shooting gave her hope.
“This small action today obviously won’t fix everything but it will show that the students and faculty at Brunswick High School support the students in Florida and refuse to let our government turn a blind eye and put politics over human lives,” she said.
After the event, several of the student organizers reflected on the walkout and the change students are working for.
It really shouldn’t be a partisan issue,” said Gabri Sparks, a sophomore. “It’s something that we all should be able to agree on. I personally have found myself coming to heads with a few of my classmates but I never for once had to think about what I was doing and it’s the right thing to do.”
She added that, “If we can do anything to support the kids of Parkland and really anybody that is worried about doing a walkout, is nervous about giving a speech, that’s what today was about,” said Sparks.
“And at least inspired conversation,” said senior Franny Stuart. “When we were walking around (the school) we could hear a guy behind us really angry at us but at least he’s yelling; at least he has his voice.”
Stuart said the students want to draw different opinions.
“I think a good thing about this was, since we had different speeches and we had a lot of different people at this rally, the idea isn’t to push any one idea,” said Josie Adolf. “It’s just that we all want to talk about it and find some solution. We all want a solution, and it’s really good to have that started, even if it’s someone angry or someone happy.”
Students will have a chance Monday to talk to three of their legislators about school safety and gun violence.
“This is the first step to doing more until something gets done,” said Sparks. “I know personally, I’m just sick of not seeing things get changed after something like this.”
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