Columbia High Students Hold 2nd School Walkout On Guns (UPDATED)

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Students at Columbia High School in the South-Orange Maplewood School District held a walkout on Friday in solidarity with a national day of protest against gun violence and in support of firearm law reform.

The walkout at Columbia High School in Maplewood took place around 10 a.m. Students took part in a “die-in” action, lying down on the front lawn of the school, then marched to Maplewood Town Hall and back to the school, with local police helping to block off streets and direct traffic, TAP Into SOMA reported.

The walkout against gun violence wasn’t coordinated with the school or district administrators, The Village Green stated.

Students in the South-Orange Maplewood district previously took part in a separately organized walkout against gun violence on March 14.

• See related article: SOMA Students Hold School Walkout Against Gun Violence

CHS Principal Elizabeth Aaron sent local parents the following letter about the April 20 walkout:

"This morning, approximately 250 CHS students chose to participate in National School Walkout Day. Students began to leave their classrooms and exit the building shortly before 10 a.m. After sitting on the school’s front lawn for approximately 20 minutes, students then walked to Maplewood Town Hall. CHS Administrators and Security Staff and Maplewood Police Officers accompanied the walkers to ensure student safety. After leaving Town Hall, some students returned directly to CHS, while others walked through Maplewood Village as they returned to school. Adult supervision was present throughout the demonstration."

Aaron continued:

"Many students are also taking part in a public installation art project – writing statements of action and protest on orange strips of fabric which are then being tied to the fence between Ritzer Field and Valley Street. This is ongoing throughout the afternoon, so students can participate during lunch or after school."

Students who participated in the walkout will face consequences to their attendance records, Aaron said:

"As the superintendent noted yesterday, attendance for classes still counted today. Students who were not present in class due to participation in the protest have been marked with an unexcused absence."

The Village Green posted the below video of the April 20 walkout.

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