Newton's Boston College Law Students Walk Out, Write To Lawmakers

NEWTON, MA — Even as secondary schools were closed on account of the snow, the students of Boston College Law School in Newton came to campus and then walked out of class Wednesday in solidarity with a nationwide student call for comprehensive gun violence prevention legislation.

After they walked out of classes the students spent the 17 minute protest signing letters addressed to the Newton representatives in Congress calling on them to continue to support and prioritize gun violence prevention legislation.

"We, the students at Boston College Law School, have decided that this moment is too crucial and this issue too urgent to stand idly by," said Becky Reindel in a statement on behalf of about 40 law students who walked out and then wrote senators.

>> Meanwhile at the State House: Students Storm The State House Rally Against Gun Violence

Letters to Senators Warren and Markey and Representative Kennedy asked them to support four bills:

• Banning Assault Weapons & High Capacity Magazines / S. 2095 / H.R. 5087
• Expanding Background Checks to All Gun Sales / S. 2009 / H.R. 4052
• Passing Gun Violence Restraining Order Law / S. 1212/ H.R. 2598
• Stop Militarizing Law Enforcement Act / S.1856 / H.R. 1556

The students also asked the legislators to oppose the Conceal Carry Reciprocity Bill S.446 and H.R.38..

The group's actions took place a month after the shooting that killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. That shooting sparked a national school walkout. Women’s March Youth EMPOWER group called for students and allies to take 17 minutes (in honor of the 17 lives taken in Parkland) at 10 a.m. across every time zone on March 14 to protest Congress’ inaction to do more than tweet thoughts and prayers in response to the gun violence plaguing our schools and neighborhoods.

"We are walking out for all people who have experienced gun violence, including systemic forms of gun violence that disproportionately impact teens in Black and Brown communities. It is important that when we refer to gun violence, we do not overlook the impact of police brutality and militarized policing or see police in schools as a solution," said the law students in a press release.

The law students said they demanded Congress create legislation to protect students across the country to make schools safer. "We need action," they wrote.

Photo courtesy Boston College Law Becky Reindel.

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