Students, parents and teachers walked out of thousands of high schools across the United States on March 14 to demand legislative action to address gun violence, Common Dreams said that day.
Students at more than 3000 high schools across the country took part in the 17-minute "Enough" walkout. The national walkout was part of a student-led movement to call for gun control reform after 17 people were killed at a high school in Parkland, Florida last month — just the latest in a series of deadly mass shootings.
Students will also head to Washington, DC, for the “March for Our Lives” on March 24 and are planning a second nationwide walkout for April 20, the 19th anniversary of the Columbine High School shooting.
Using the hashtags #Enough, #NationalSchoolWalkout, and #NationalWalkoutDay, protesters and journalists shared on social media photos, videos, and anecdotes from Wednesday's demonstrations.
Parkland, Florida
Students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School—the site of last month's massacre—filed out into the football field for a 17-minute moment of silence.
WATCH: Students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High staged a walkout to demand gun reform on the one-month anniversary of the shooting.
— NBC News (@NBCNews) March 14, 2018
Tune in to @MSNBC for continuing coverage of #NationalWalkoutDay. pic.twitter.com/ojPgX2gxXo
Atlanta, Georgia
In Atlanta, about 600 students at Booker T. Washington High School left their classrooms to "take a knee" in a silent protest, taking inspiration from a number of famous athletes who have protested police brutality and institutionalized racism in recent months.
Students at Booker T Washington High School in Atlanta talking a knee as part of the #NationalWalkoutDay protests.
Jamiles LarteyBoston, Massachusetts & Portland, Maine
Many students in New England, including in Boston and Portland, Maine, attended protests despite their schools being closed after heavy snow on Tuesday and Wednesday. Boston students marched to the State House to demand their legislators enact tougher gun control laws.
Abbey Niezgoda NBC10 Boston✔@AbbeyNBCBoston
A snow day not stopping these students in the Boston are from participating in the Walk Out for Action. Marching to state house now @NBC10Boston
The Portland Phoenix✔@PortlandPhoenix
School was canceled in #PortlandME today but students from King Middle School and Portland High School are using their snow day to demand tougher gun laws.
Granada Hills, California
In Granada Hills, California, students and teachers arranged themselves on the football field at Granada Hills Charter High School to spell out the word "ENOUGH," while a gong sounded 17 times for the 17 people who were killed in Parkland.
Students enter their field at Granada Hills Charter High School to spell ENOUGH for #NationalWalkoutDay California #walkout pic.twitter.com/ZqJXBaHiOM
— Sarah Reingewirtz (@sarahimages) March 14, 2018
Littleton, Colorado
At Columbine High School in Colorado, the site of an infamous mass shooting in 1999, students walked out and released balloons in memory of those killed in Florida.
WATCH: At Columbine High School, students release balloons one at a time in honor of the 17 victims of the MS Douglas High shooting. #NationalWalkoutDay pic.twitter.com/bPOzrlOOPc
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) March 14, 2018
New York, New York
Students in New York City gathered outside one of President Donald Trump's hotels, and shouted: "Hey hey, NRA, how many kids did you kill today?"
Students outside Trump Tower in Manhattan chant "Hey, Hey, NRA, how many kids did you kill today." pic.twitter.com/m89Ebr2YPF
— Robert Maguire (@RobertMaguire_) March 14, 2018
Walking out alone...but not really alone
Rosa Rodriquez, a sophomore at Sayreville War Memorial High School in New Jersey—which reportedly threatened to suspend participants—was interviewed by local media about being the only student from her school to walk out.
Under threat of suspension just one student walked out of Sayreville HS this morning #1010wins. Administrators warned students not to walk out
glenn schuck@glennschuckAnd Justin Blackman, a student at Wilson Preparatory Academy in Wilson, North Carolina, also walked out by himself to mark the day.
Justin Blackman@JustinIBlackman
Wow I’m literally the only one #NationalSchoolWalkout
Washington, D.C.
As Democratic members of Congress joined students outside the U.S. Capitol Building in D.C., the demonstrators greeted Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) with cheers. Addressing the crowd over chants of "Bernie, Bernie," Sanders said: "I am absolutely delighted and proud that you are here today. What you are doing is of national significance. You're leading this country in the right direction. Thank you all."
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