Students Walkout To Protest Gun Violence At Morristown High School

MORRISTOWN, NJ — Students from Morristown High School walked out of class on Wednesday, June 1 to protest the government's inaction on gun violence.

The protest comes on the heels of the recent massacre at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, in which 19 elementary school students and two teachers were shot to death. Morristown High School students filed out of their classrooms at noon and onto the football field, where they sat for 30 minutes.

"Enough is enough. Gun violence is the leading cause of death for children and teens. How many more kids have to die before those in power stand up to the gun lobby," said walkout organizer Miles Gorman.

The high school principal, Mark Manning, stated that the walkout idea was requested and that he and the students collaborated to make the event safe and successful. Manning estimated that around a thousand students participated in the walkout and that all students, whether they participated or not, were overwhelmingly supportive.

"I couldn't be more proud of the student organizers and our student participants – it was an incredibly successful event," Manning said.

Following the recent mass shootings in the United States, Morris County residents are speaking out in support of gun reform, including plans for a rally in downtown Chatham.

Read more: Rally Against Gun Violence Planned In Chatham By Morris Co. Moms

"It was an incredibly well-organized event that focused on the single issue of the need for gun safety in our community and our nation. The student participants listened respectfully and I believed walked away with a powerful message. After 34 years as an educator, I continue to be tremendously impressed by our young people and their willingness to take a stand on meaningful issues such as this," Manning said.