College Of Marin Students To Take Part In National School Walkout

KENTFIELD, CA – Students at College of Marin are walking out of class Wednesday, one month after the tragic shooting at a Florida school. The walkout is part of a nationwide effort to protest gun violence, push lawmakers to strengthen gun control laws and remember the victims.

Organizers of the Women's March called on students, teachers, administrators and parents to participate in the ENOUGH National School Walkout for 17 minutes Wednesday in honor of the 17 lives lost on Valentine's Day at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida.

Ismail Azam, president of the Associated Students of College of Marin, organized the walkout, which will take place at 10 a.m. at College of Marin's Kentfield Campus. A forum and presentation will follow in the cafeteria at the Student Services Center.

"This issue is too urgent to stand by and do nothing. Tweets and prayers are just not enough anymore," Azam said in a statement. "We cannot let these unfortunate events simply turn into another statistic in America's gun violence crisis."

People unable to participate are encouraged to wear orange and take a photo to share on social media as part of a virtual walkout, according to the college.

"Sadly, the threat of gun violence — whether it occurs in schools or in our communities — is something that we must be prepared to address," David Wain Coon, superintendent and president of College of Marin, said in a statement. "In addition to providing on-campus training opportunities for responding to an active shooter situation, we also want to support our students' right to peacefully protest and take actions they believe can affect change."

Image via KMH Photovideo/Shutterstock.com