Romeoville Student Walkout: Students To Send Message

ROMEOVILLE, IL — Romeoville High School students will walk out of class on Wednesday, March 14, to the field where they will spell out "RHS United" in a massive formation. Principal Derek Kinder said he and school officials wanted to allow the students to speak their voice.

The walkout is a show of support for the students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, who lost 17 students and staff last month in a tragic massacre.

"Student leadership talked with me about doing something," Kinder told Patch. "We wanted to acknowledge the support students felt" for the Parkland students.

"Let's do it right," Kinder said.

At 9:45 a.m. Wednesday, an announcement will come over the PA, helping students through the directions. They'll walk out to the fields.

Students there will find "RHS United" painted on the field. They'll have a brief moment of silence, then fill in the letters and make a big border around the field with their bodies. They will photograph the students and their message—the school owns a drone which they'll use as well as the tower at the field.

The event is planned to last from 10 a.m. to 10:17 a.m. one minute for each of those killed in Parkland, but officials realize that 17 minutes is a bit tight to complete such a massive project. "The whole thing shouldn't take more than 30 minutes," Kinder said. When the walkout is done, students will return to class. Photos of the students will be posted around the school and some will be sent to Parkland.

"We are responsible for our safety and security," Kinder told Patch. "If you see something, say something."

Kinder told Patch about other events students are undertaking this week, like 17 acts of kindness. The school is "helping students step out of their comfort zone to make others feel more comfortable," he said.

Kinder said some students were initially wary about a walkout, as it would be disrespectful to the teachers. But, with the support of the school, Romeoville High students decided to go for it.

The school is working with Romeoville's police and fire departments. "They're securing our campus to make sure nobody comes in that's not a part of our community," Kinder said.

No students will be allowed to leave campus during the event. Students who want to leave campus must, like always, get parental permission. This may be a factor as a right-wing, pro-gun rally is taking place on the southwest corner of the school's campus. Since the rally is not on campus, students who want to attend must get parental permission to leave campus.

The pro-gun rally's Facebook event page says 13 people are going and 82 are interested. Overpasses for America, which is described as an "extreme far-right" group, is backing the rally.

Superintendent James Mitchem released a letter in support of the students, saying "As educators, one of our most important tasks is providing students with the guidance of learning advocacy skills for developing policy when they become adults. As time marches forward, we want to make sure the students of today are ready to assume the leadership roles of tomorrow."

Kinder thinks that "the most powerful message out of all of this is that the kids united together with our staff and some parents... they all play a role."

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