New Trier High School Students Walk Out In Gun Violence Protest

WINNETKA, IL — Hundreds of students walked out of class at New Trier High School's Winnetka and Northfield campus Wednesday to honor the 17 people murdered a month ago at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida and demand changes to gun laws.

Students carried signs with messages criticizing the National Rifle Association, asking for students to be afforded the same rights as guns and emphasizing that gun reform – rather than thoughts and prayers – are needed to save lives.

The president of the student government told Pioneer Press the event at the Winnetka campus included three speakers advocating gun control legislation, a moment of silence and white balloons released one by one as names were read of each of the 17 victims from the Parkland shooting.

#NBCChicago #NationalSchoolWalkout #NationalWalkoutDay @nbcchicago pic.twitter.com/IvNpnEagpe
— ᴄʟᴀʀᴋ (@SimplyRidic) March 14, 2018

One junior said he was participating in the walkout to bring awareness to the cause of gun violence prevention.

"I just think it needs to stop, just come to an end," he told the paper. "Hopefully the administration will do something. Security is awful here."

New Trier administrators adjusted the schedule for the day and advised that students who participated would not be disciplined for leaving class.

Media were barred from campus for the student-organized events, but some parents and alumni gathered off campus to show their support.

More than half of the students at the Winnetka campus elected not to leave the building, according to Winnetka Talk.

pic.twitter.com/zX1QjTqIWM
— Marc (@iWobb) March 14, 2018

Student Walkout today at New Trier High School #StudentsStandUp @WGNNews @NBCNews pic.twitter.com/aw5j096pjb
— Matt Booden (@matt_booden) March 14, 2018

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