Livermore Students Will Take Part In National School Walkout Day

LIVERMORE, CA — One month after the tragic shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School left 17 people dead, high school students in Livermore will walk out of class as part of a nationwide effort to push lawmakers to come up with "common sense gun control" laws and to remember the victims. Thousands of schools, including many in the East Bay, are expected to participate in the student demonstrations Wednesday morning.

Organizers of the Women’s March called on students, teachers, administrators and parents to participate. The ENOUGH National School Walkout will be held at 10 a.m. March 14, exactly one month from the Florida shooting, and is expected to last 17 minutes — one minute for each life lost.

So far, students from Granada High School have registered for the event. Livermore High students are rallying on social media to inspire students to participate. Students from both schools launched on online petition in February. District officials said Livermore students are being given the opportunity to meet with local officials Tuesday to share their views and ask questions on the subject of school safety.

Hundreds of students in Dublin, Pleasanton, San Ramon and Danville also plan on participating in the demonstrations.

Despite inaction from federal legislators in the month since the tragic shooting, businesses nationwide have taken it upon themselves to raise the age limit for purchasing firearms as well as removing assault rifles from their inventories. This action has been met with widespread criticism from both sides of the gun argument.

Photo courtesy Autumn Johnson/ Patch