Bloomfield Students: School Walkout Against Gun Violence (WATCH)

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — They walked out of their classes on Wednesday morning in Bloomfield, joining thousands of their peers across the nation in a protest against gun violence.

On March 14, students in Bloomfield participated in the national #ENOUGH rallies, which were timed for March 14 to coincide with the one-month anniversary of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

The walkouts each were slated to last 17 minutes, one for each life taken during the tragedy. (Learn more about the protest here)

Students led a walkout at Bloomfield High School around 10 a.m.

According to a letter from Bloomfield High School administrators to local parents, posted on the Nutley Citizens Community Facebook page:

“Although this event is student led and student driven, the administration is working with the students and the Bloomfield Police Department to ensure the safety and well-being of those students who wish to participate in this event. Students are responsible for any missed work during this time as instructional class time will continue for those students who do not wish to participate. The administration has agreed that any student who participates in this event will not be subject to school discipline as long as their participation is peaceful and they follow the direction of school and police personnel.”

Bloomfield wasn’t the only local school district to see student-led walkouts on Wednesday.

In Essex County, student walkouts took place in towns including West Orange, Montclair, South Orange-Maplewood, Bloomfield, Nutley, Verona, Livingston, Millburn and Newark.

• See related article: School Walkouts In Essex County: Students Against Guns (WATCH)

Here’s what drove the national walkouts, according to organizers:

“We are living in an age where young people like us do not feel safe in our schools. This issue is personal for all of us, especially for those of us who are survivors of gun violence. 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. We also recognize the United States has exported gun violence through imperialist foreign policy to destabilize other nations. We raise our voices for action against all these forms of gun violence.”

While many districts have chosen to condone or embrace the protests, some, such as the Sayreville School District, have threatened to suspend participating students.

According to the ACLU of New Jersey, school officials are not allowed to prohibit or censor speech or press activities based on their content, unless it falls within one of two exceptions:

• “It is foreseeable that the speech will cause substantial disruption to the operation of the school”
• “It is too lewd or vulgar for the school audience”

Many parents and community members offered support for the student-led protest online. However, some 2nd Amendment advocates have argued against the students’ main assertion: more gun control laws will help to stop school shootings.

"Unfortunately, [Parkland] will not be the last mass shooting in America, in a school or any other soft target, and no new gun laws will prevent anyone with enough hate in their heart from committing such a crime," the New Jersey Second Amendment Society (NJ2AS) stated last month.

“We can certainly do better to improve the existing systems in place and properly enforce gun regulations already on the books,” the group stated.

• See related article: NJ Gun Advocates Say More Laws Won't Stop School Shootings

Are you for or against the student walkouts on March 14? Let us know why. Send a letter to the editor with your full name and town of residence to eric.kiefer@patch.com

Main Photo: YouTube / BENGAL BROADCASTS / produced and filmed by Anthony Fernandes BHS Junior TV/Film Production