Schools
Niles West Students Walk Out Of Class To Protest Gun Violence
Students at Niles West High School walked out Friday in solidarity with survivors and victims of last week's school shooting in Florida.
SKOKIE, IL — Hundreds of students at Niles West High School walked out of class Friday afternoon out of solidarity with the victims of last week's shooting at a Florida high school. Many students said they were inspired by calls for reform of gun laws from students who survived the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
The student protesters chanted for "No more guns" and chanted "we want peace," according to a report from the school newspaper. The brief protest concluded with a moment of silence for the 17 people killed in the Feb. 14 shooting. In a statement to parents, Principal Jason Ness said he was proud of the students, who showed "action, empathy and civic virtue."
"Hopefully, it will make people see that we're scared for our own lives," one junior identified as a leader of the protest told Niles West News. "Us. Children. We’re people, and we’re scared for our own lives to go to school where we get our education. It makes me worried about this, and this is why we’re here.”
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Earlier this week, neighboring Niles North High School was evacuated as police responded to a bomb threat. Hundreds of students were evacuated Wednesday and taken on buses to Niles West.
"Schools across the country are experiencing the same anxieties and challenges we are facing," Ness wrote in a message to parents informing them that the walkout was peaceful, according to the Review. "But one thing I've learned as principal is that this community is resilient, strong and united in its efforts to move forward."
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Some Niles West students expressed dismay that not all participants were taking the protest seriously, according to the school paper, with some one noting that several students broke into a fight as others were chanting "we want peace."
Another walkout has been planned for 10 a.m. on March 14 for the National School Walkout Movement, to call on Congress to take action to make communities safer from gun violence.
Video report on the walkout from Niles West News:
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