February 14, 2018 was a day filled with evil, pain, and loss. As a result, students throughout the world took the initiative to voice their opinions regarding gun control. The impact of the school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School resonated globally. To commemorate both the recent shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas and other tragic shootings, the concept of a National School Walkout was born.

The movement was planned for April 20 at 10 a.m., which is the anniversary of the Columbine school shooting. The mission of the National School Walkout was “to walk out for those who lost their lives to gun violence, to talk about the real problems the country is facing, and to find solutions to the problems that leaders have failed to address.” The walkout was a success throughout the country, as more than 2,500 schools participated. In cities such as New York City, Chicago, and Washington, D.C., students gathered in public parks to protest with signs and speeches, and many participants chose to wear orange, the movement’s color.

Pine Crest had their own walkout on April 20 after the Founders Council assembly. This walkout was only about two months later than the original walkout, yet one active member of this event, junior Bianca Simons, said, “This was a way smaller turnout versus the one in February. I think this speaks for the fact that the issue of gun control has become less popular for people.”

However, despite the low turnout, Bianca said, “I felt motivated by some of the things people said, such as how gun violence should be seen as more than a trend and that people should continue to speak out against injustice.”

Echoing Bianca’s sentiments, Lane Murdock, the National School Walkout’s founder, said, “I didn’t have a huge reaction [to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas shooting], and because of that, I needed to change myself, and we needed to change this country. We should be horrified, and we’re not anymore.”

The National School Walkout was one of the many steps that student activists took to fight for stricter gun laws, and they are determined to continue the fight as long as it will take.

Sources: CNN, National School Walkout

Photo Source: Slowking4 via Wikimedia Commons