Decatur Students Walk Out To Protest Gun Violence

DECATUR, GA — Hundreds of Decatur High School students walked out of classes Wednesday morning, joining their peers across the nation in a national student protest against gun violence. At 10 a.m., students began silently filing outside, where speakers called for stiffer gun laws and sent sympathy to the victims of last month's deadly school shooting in Parkland, Florida.

"We no longer feel safe in our schools," said student organizer Andi Kezh, as her classmates crowded around, some carrying signs bearing slogans like "We Love Parkland" and "Who's Next?"

"We are joining students across the nation today to stand up for gun control."

Visitors were not allowed on campus during Wednesday's demonstration.

Thousands of students across America are participating in the National School Walkout memorial protest a month after a gunman shot and killed 17 people at a Parkland, Florida, high school.

The students are also joining a growing protest over gun violence and a demand for stricter gun laws, such as those that would have prevented Nikolas Cruz from buying the AR-15 rifle he is accused of using in the Florida shooting. They also are calling for a raise in the minimum age to buy a gun and stricter background checks.

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In Decatur, students followed a couple of speakers with 17 minutes of silence. At the start of each minute, a student read aloud the name of one of the 17 people killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School last month.

On a morning when temperatures were in the 30s, dozens of parents and other supporters gathered across the street from Decatur High to show their support. They applauded as students began filing out of the school and chanted "Thank you!"

After the 17 minutes of silence, students joined hands as organizers asked them to remember someone impacted by gun violence. Then, together, the spoke the phrase, "We will remember."

City Schools of Decatur Superintendent David Dude said in a message to the community late last month that he respects the power of civil disobedience, but struggles with disrupting the school day and putting students at risk outside the school building.

School employees did not officially participate in the walkout, which is prohibited in the student code of conduct. Students who leave school, or those who encourage others to do so, face discipline, possibly three days of in-school suspension. The punishment may be reduced by the principal.

"To be clear, however, as stated earlier, we support a student's right to non-disruptive protest and freedom of speech and will do what we can to support students interested in exercising those rights," Dude wrote.

He reviewed school security on Feb. 27 in the wake of the Florida shootings, and an update on student safety protocols will be on the agenda at the school board's March 20 meeting.

"I have experienced both ends of the security spectrum personally. I have worked in schools with no security, unlocked doors, unfettered access to the building, and no security plans or drills. I have also worked in a school district that had its own police force and TSA-like secure entrances complete with armed guards, bag searches, and metal detectors, along with robust security plans and regular "active shooter" drills," Dude said. "My personal belief is that neither of these extremes is appropriate for our schools. I believe in a balance that implements reasonable security measures while maintaining a comfortable, academic environment for our students and staff."

Photos by Patch editor Doug Gross