1,000 Students Get Detention For Downers Grove Walkout: Officials

DOWNERS GROVE, IL — About 1,000 District 99 students will spend an hour in detention for walking out of class to spend 17 minutes in silence as part of a nationwide protest against gun laws, according to Superintendent Hank Thiele. The walkout took place exactly one month after 17 people were gunned down at Marjory Stoneman Douglas School in Parkland, Florida.

In a Facebook live video Wednesday evening, Thiele said the students were aware of the disciplinary consequences ahead of the event and that the district had spoken to them about other options, including a vigil. Thiele informed students and parents of the punishment in an email on March 8.

Thiele wrote, "We believe for students to receive the full civics lesson of what it means to participate in a protest also requires accepting the consequences for their actions."

Still, 1,000 students walked out of Downers Grove North and South High Schools because, as Thiele said, “[They] wanted to show that the consequences were worth it to have their voice heard.

According to Thiele, the school wanted to remain politically neutral, so they treated the walkout like any other unexcused absence.

After the walkout, Thiele said he was proud of the students. “They broke the rules with a purpose. I’m proud of young adults who are willing to do this for whatever they believe in.”

Ahead of the walkout, Alex Wielgosz, a junior at Downers Grove South told Patch, "I think our school should be encouraging us to take action as more and more school shootings seem to be happening all over the country." Wielgosz was among the students who got a detention.

Students from thousands of schools across the country participated in the March 14 walkout to protest gun violence and show solidarity with the students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas School in Parkland, Florida. 17 people were killed in Parkland when a gunman with an AR-15 opened fire.

Students who protested were encouraged to do so safely and with minimal disruption to students who choose to remain in class. The district also coordinated with local law enforcement to further ensure the safety of students and staff.

>>>Image via YouTube, Osscarr Gabriel