Evanston Walkouts Protest Gun Violence

EVANSTON, IL — The Evanston community came out in force Wednesday as part of national protests against gun violence. Thousands of Evanston Township High School students walked out of class and packed the stands of the school's football stadium shortly after 10 a.m., and hundreds more students and residents joined a demonstration at Fountain Square in downtown Evanston.

The synchronized events were held on the one-month anniversary of the murder of 17 people at a Florida high school and coordinated by a organizers with the Women's March.

"Today our voices ring out in solidarity with the youth of America," said ETHS senior and Student Senate President Emma Stein, the first of several speakers. "Our voices mourn and our voices demand change."

High school students spoke in favor of stricter gun regulations, like strengthening background checks and mental health evaluations for firearm owners, bans on assault weapons and bump stocks.

Stein and other student speakers encouraged the crowd to contact elected officials to urge action on gun laws and distributed a list of representatives' contact information.

Evanston Township High School Principal Marcus Campbell told the Evanston Review he estimated 90 percent of students, more than 3,000 people, participated in the event.

"If we do not want gun violence to define our generation, then let's make a difference," an ETHS senior told the paper.