Bridgewater-Raritan Students To Walkout Wednesday

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Bridgewater-Raritan Regional High School students will participate in a nationwide walkout Wednesday in protest of recent gun violence in schools and to call for stricter firearm laws.

The 17-minute walkout is one of hundreds that will be held across the United States spearheaded by the Enough National School Walkout of the Women's March Youth EMPOWER nonprofit. The length of time is done in memory of the 17 victims of the school shooting in Parkland, Florida earlier this year. (See Related: Florida Shooting Victim, 14, Lived In NJ, 'Loved, Well-Respected')

The walkout will be held at 10 a.m. in the Confidence Course at the high school.

The district sent out a note to students regarding the walkout. It explains that the walkout is optional and students who do not wish to participate should stay in class and continue their lesson.

Students are allowed to walkout for the 17-to 19-minute time frame, which includes entering and exiting their class.

"Any students who return after the 20 minute mark will be held responsible and counted as cutting. They must face their given consequence," the district letter stated.

Teachers can continue to teach if they want even if they decide to walk out.

Any students caught skipping or leaving school grounds will face individual consequences.

Students are also encouraged to wear orange to show solidarity with the movement and to bring school-appropiate signs and banners.

For more information visit Instagram @walkoutatbrhs or Facbook Walk Out at BRHS.

Photo: Students participate in a protest against gun violence Feb. 21 outside the White House in Washington, D.C. Hundreds of students from a number of Maryland and DC schools walked out of their classrooms and made a trip to the U.S. Capitol and the White House to call for gun legislation, one week after 17 were killed in the latest mass school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

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