Thousands Walk Out In Oak Park High School Gun Violence Protest

OAK PARK, IL — Thousands of students walked out of Oak Park-River Forest High School Wednesday to take a stand against gun violence in the wake of the Feb. 14 shooting that killed 17 students in Parkland, Florida. The Oak Park students poured out of the building, many linking arms and carrying protests signs.

"We wanted to show that we are in support of the Parkland High School teens that are protesting for gun control in Tallahassee right now. We are unhappy with how much power the NRA has in our government and how little our government has done to protect US citizens against gun violence," senior Lauren Flowers told Patch.

Flowers said almost everyone senior at the high school walked out and that she was "sure at least 2,000 kids walked out [Wednesday]."

"A moment that stood out to me was when I saw all the kids that marched [who] I know lean more on the conservative side of the political spectrum. It was great to see that they still came out to support the cause," Flowers said.

Oak Park youth leaders like Flowers are also coordinating with other students throughout Chicagoland to plan a sister march that will coincide with the March For Our Lives in Washington D.C. on March 24th.

"My senior class is stressing how important it is for all of us to get out and vote for people that will not back down in the fight against gun control," Flowers said. "Voter turnout isn’t the best for teens, but we’re trying to recognize how important it is for our voices to be heard."

Students who are 17, but will turn 18 before November are eligible to vote in the March primaries.

In a statement, Oak Park-River Forest High School said staff was instructed to allow the students to walk out in the peaceful protest. Staff and security were stationed to keep the walkout "safe and orderly," the statement said.

"They have a right to peacefully protest. Our goal is to ensure that they are kept safe in the process,” Principal Nathaniel Rouse told school faculty and staff in an email early Wednesday.

>>Image courtesy of Lauren Flowers