Students Walk Out Over Gun Laws In 'Orderly' Protests: Schools

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Students from several Anne Arundel County schools joined a national movement and participated in a walkout on Wednesday, March 14, to protest recent gun violence in schools and call for stricter laws. The 17-minute walkout, coordinated with the National School Walkout day, began at 10 a.m. County school officials had urged students to remain in class, but described the protests as orderly.

Anne Arundel County schools that took part, according to event organizers, included: Annapolis High School, Broadneck High School, Severna Park High School, Old Mill High School in Millersville, Northeast High School in Pasadena, and Thomas Viaduct Middle School in Hanover.

The walkout events were planned across the country after 17 students, teachers, and coaches were killed and numerous people injured in the Valentine's Day massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Students participating in the National Walkout will leave their classrooms for 17 minutes – one minute for each life taken at the school on Feb. 14, according to organizers.

"We need action. Students and allies are organizing the national school walkout to demand Congress pass legislation to keep us safe from gun violence at our schools, on our streets and in our homes and places of worship," according to the nationwide event page.

Anne Arundel County Schools Superintendent George Arlotto said in a letter to parents late last month that students should stay in their school buildings for safety's sake. "Anne Arundel County Public Schools cannot encourage or endorse events that allow students to leave school buildings during school hours and congregate outside in environments in which they may well be unsupervised and perhaps unsafe," Arlotto said.

News media and onlookers were not allowed on school property to witness the protests, and some school driveways were blocked, The Capital-Gazette reported. School officials watched the student demonstrations from security camera footage, spokesman Bob Mosier said. Some students held photos of the students and teacher killed in Florida, while others chanted a name each minute.

School principals have been told to work with student leaders to develop meaningful activities such as going to the auditorium, gym, or cafeteria to express their solidarity and voice on the issue. "They could also include some other form of expression such as ribbons, shirts, etc. The point is for students to help their schools
develop something meaningful to them, and that may vary from school to school," Arlotto said.

While principals have not been ordered to impose specific disciplinary action such as suspensions on students who leave school buildings, there is a Code of Student Conduct students must follow, he said.

The University of Maryland in College Park was also slated to take part in the walkout. You can find a full list of schools participating in the walkout by clicking here.

Here are two upcoming national protests aimed at legislative gun reform:

• March 24, 2018 — March For Our Lives. Say event organizers: "On March 24, the kids and families of March For Our Lives will take to the streets of Washington DC to demand that their lives and safety become a priority and that we end gun violence and mass shootings in our schools today. March with us in Washington DC or march in your own community. On March 24, the collective voices of the March For Our Lives movement will be heard.
• April 20, 2018 — National High School Student Walk Out. Say event organizers: "On Friday, April 20th, the 19th anniversary of the Columbine shooting I propose a National High School student walk out. Walk out of school, wear orange and protest online and in your communities. Sign the petition if you pledge to do so. Nothing has changed since Columbine, let us start a movement that lets the government know the time for change is now."

Patch Editor Kara Seymour contributed.

PHOTO: PARKLAND, FL - FEBRUARY 20: Madison Fox is hugged as the West Boca High School student joined hundreds of fellow students that walked to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in honor of the 17 students shot dead on February 20, 2018 in Parkland, Florida. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)