Students Across Area Walk Out Of School To Protest Gun Violence

BIRMINGHAM, AL - In an act of nationwide solidarity, students across the United States walked out of their schools at 10 a.m. March 14, for 17 minutes - to honor the 17 people killed in the parkland Florida, school shooting exactly one month ago. The students, who are trying to effect change in the county's gun laws, have responded to the Parkland tragedy in a manner that has not been seen following other school shootings. And Birmingham area students joined in the activism Wednesday.

Although no official count has been determined regarding how many schools participated in the walk-out, there were some school systems in the metro area that either opted to let students make a choice on the matter, held a less conspicuous form of demonstration or simply did not participate at all. However, in light of last week's fatal shooting at Huffman High School, which took the life of senior student Courtlin Arrington, students in Birmingham's schools are taking a more active role in the fight for gun control.

Students at the Alabama School of Fine Arts peacefully lined the sidewalks outside the school's downtown Birmingham campus, standing silently for 18 minutes, adding an extra minute for Arrington. Although the day was uncharacteristically cold and the wind often made the cool air uncomfortable, ADFA students, many locking arms or holding hands, stood together quietly, and when the 18 minutes passed, returned just as quietly to their classrooms.

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The administration at ASFA let parents and students know two weeks ago that they would allow participation in the nationwide walkout. Participation was not mandatory, nor did it necessarily reflect the political views of all of the faculty and administrators at each school. But many parents in the Birmingham community voiced that they are impressed with seeing teens getting involved and feeling passionate about issues.

"With attention spans the way they are now, and with everything (these students) have thrown their way every day, this is one of the best ways I can think of for them to spend 17 minutes out of the day," said ASFA board of directors member Jim Noles.

"This is moving," said Janet Wallace, a Birmingham resident who stopped to see what was going on at the ASFA campus. "I had no idea this was even happening today. These young men and women are making a big statement and they aren't even saying a word."

March 24, Birmingham will also join several other cities across the country in participating in March For Our Lives. The Birmingham MFOL will be held at Railroad Park from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. A YouCaring fundraising effort has been launched for the event, and has already raised $8,000.

Photos by Michael Seale/Patch