Murrieta Students Will Participate In National School Walkout Day

MURRIETA, CA — One month after the tragic shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida left 17 people dead, high school students in Murrieta will walk out of class as part of a nationwide effort "to protest Congress’ inaction to do more than tweet thoughts and prayers in response to the gun violence plaguing our schools and neighborhoods."

Thousands of schools, including many in California, are expected to participate in the #ENOUGH National School Walkout student demonstrations Wednesday morning at 10 a.m. The walkouts are expected to last 17 minutes — one minute for each life lost.

In Murrieta, students at Murrieta Mesa High School are planning to take part in the event. They are listed among the 14 Riverside County high schools who signed up on the official walkout website. It's possible other schools may participate as well, but groups from Vista Murrieta and Murrieta Valley were not "registered," which is not required, as of Tuesday afternoon.

"For those students who wish to participate, our secondary schools have plans in place to provide alternative activities where students can remember the victims of the Florida shooting and share their views in a positive manner while remaining on campus where there is supervision and security," Murrieta Valley Unified School District Spokeswoman Karen Paris told Patch.

"The schools will focus on what students can do to be active in keeping their campus safe," she added. "In addition, they plan to discuss ways for students to get involved by registering to vote and contacting their representatives to express their views. Our goal is to ensure that all students feel safe, supported and respected."

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In neighboring Temecula, the school district has actually restructured the bell schedule at the high schools so that students don't miss instructional class time. Officials say they'll allow — and safely accommodate — any student observances that may happen at Chaparral, Great Oak and Temecula Valley high schools.

Organizers of the Women's March called on students, teachers, administrators and parents to participate in the movement.

"Students and allies are organizing the national school walkout to demand Congress pass legislation to keep us safe from gun violence at our schools, on our streets and in our homes and places of worship," organizers said.

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 by Patch Editor Autumn Johnson