Highland Park High School Students Organize Daylong Walkout

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — More than two dozen Highland Park High School students walked out of class Friday morning, inspired by a school shooting in Florida just over two months ago to commemorate the 19th anniversary of a mass shooting at a high school in Colorado with a demonstration against gun violence and in favor of stricter gun control. The group marched to downtown Highland Park and through residential streets chanting slogans against the National Rifle Association and in favor of stricter gun control.

Walking out of class shortly after 10:30 a.m. and remaining outside for much of the rest of the day, marchers carried signs with messages like, "This isn't a matter of left and right, it's life and death," "Enough, no fear" and "We are students, we are victims, we are change."

Highland Park police coordinated with organizers to ensure the safety of demonstrators. Chief Lou Jogmen rode ahead of marchers in a command vehicle and officers on bicycles escorted students. Many motorists offered support by honking, giving thumbs up or chanting along with the student marchers. At least one had to be scolded by police for using a cell phone to record the students while driving past.

Students faced the potential of several hours of Saturday detention, according to organizers. Planning for the event preceded the March 14 national student walkout. A few days after the 17 people were murdered by a former student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, several student organizers at Highland Park High School created an Instagram account to coordinate an April 20 walkout.

"We spent a lot of hours outside of school, meeting up for sleepovers, working and scheduling and planning and everything," said Molly, 15, of Highland Park. She was one of several sophomore student organizers who spoke to Patch in the midst of multiple marches through town during the daylong walkout. (Last names of minors have been removed.)

They said the social media account had received a string of cruel comments through accounts – from both anonymous posters and the accounts of HPHS students – featuring nasty names and transphobic comments.

"The use of social media was really representative of this march as a whole, because we're obviously the next generation, and our means of communication is through social media," said 16-year-old Sarah.

"It was a success, we didn't just stay in our school property, we went out to the community and we protested for what we believe is right, and for our safety," said Itxel, a 15-year-old Highwood resident. "We got our voices to be heard, and I think that we can continue this and we will continue this in fighting and protesting."

One of the five girls who operated the Instagram account, 15-year-old Highland Park resident Sage, said she considered the event a success.

"The people who came out really believe in stronger gun control and protecting the people," she said. "Especially considering it's our first-ever walkout we've organized and it's by the students for the students."

The interview was interrupted by Assistant Principal Steven C. Tucker, who alleged (to the bemusement of police and, it turns out, falsely, according to public records) that the sidewalk of Vine Avenue was school property.

Students said school administrators had threatened them with unspecified punishment for handing out flyers during the planning process for the demonstration.

An ice cream truck arrived, offering complimentary frozen confections to demonstrators. They were told to park away from school property. Student demonstrators offered some treats to police, who politely declined.

A pair of vocal counter-protesters joined along with more than 30 students advocating for stricter gun control. One carried a sign that read, "STFU libtards, you don't know anything about guns. Change my mind."

"They can't give me what they want to change about gun laws," he said. "All they're saying is just 'no, no, no' they don't give us a solution."

Organizers said individual demonstrators had varied opinions about ways to improve gun safety in the United States. Most agreed on stronger background checks and restrictions on certain semi-automatic rifles, like raising the minimum age to buy one.

Regardless of the political impact of the walkout – or the threat of detention for those who took part – Sarah, who planned to incorporate the demonstration into her civics curriculum during final period Friday afternoon, said there was nothing more important than imparting civic engagement upon students.

"Because there's a lot of things that we learn in school that we're never going to use again. I don't know when I'm going to have to find the side-angle-side of a triangle," she said.

"But I know that throughout the rest of my life I'm going to have to be civically engaged, and having marches like this and protests – that teaches us skills that we're going to need for the rest of our lives."