Droves Of Joliet Central Students Walkout Of Class

JOLIET, IL - Dozens of Joliet Central High School students dared to defy the District 204 school administration by walking out of their high school building at 10 a.m. sharp on Wednesday. These students joined forces with thousands of fellow high school students all across the United States who were participating in #NationalWalkoutDay to protest gun violence.

The Joliet Patch was on hand to document Wednesday morning's momentous event, an event that is sure to be remembered for many years by these Joliet Central High School students.

(photos here via Joliet Central student Ally, who uses Twitter handle Ally_Cat511)

However, school officials apparently were aware of the possibility of a student walkout as well. Joliet Township High School District 204 had positioned dozens of school security guards all around the perimeter of the high school building. Joliet Patch was approached by one of the school district's top administrative officials at the central office, who asked that we leave the high school premises, pointing out that students were still in school and were not to be interviewed during the regular school day.

Patch decided to comply with the District 204's request. A reporter and a photographer from the Joliet newspaper, The Herald-News also showed up but those two individuals were kept about a half-block away from the roundabout where the students holding up signs and yelling chants were gathered here in downtown Joliet.

The students who gathered outside to protest captured dozens of photos and they also posted videos of their movement at Joliet Central on social media platforms including Twitter. One student's photo captured the essence of Wednesday's event at Joliet Central. His photo showed hundreds of classmates gathered at the roundabout below him as he snapped this photo. He included the hashtag #WEWANTCHANGE.

Images via John Ferak, Joliet Patch Editor