200 New Providence Students Defy Order, Walk Out Of School

NEW PROVIDENCE, NJ — Despite the New Providence High School's warning, 200 students participated in a nationwide walkout Wednesday at 10 a.m. in protest of recent gun violence in schools and to call for stricter firearm laws.

New Providence High School Principal Lauren Zirpoli said in a letter that students were not permitted to walk out of class this morning and went on to quote Board of Education policy that prohibited this. However, Zirpoli offered that students who wanted to protest would "only allowed to do so at 2:40 p.m. at Lieder field for 17 minutes." (See Related: New Providence Prohibits Students From Walking Out)

Defying Zirpoli's orders, students still walked out at 10 a.m. and, as of 3 p.m., students were not made aware of any consequences.

The students who went against the order joined Sayreville Sophomore Rosa Rodriquez in their public defiance. Rodriguez made national news for being the only student to walk out of Sayreville War Memorial High School on Wednesday despite the school's threat to suspend anyone who participated. Her protest was captured on video.

Read more: Student Defies Order, 2 Schools Close As Thousands Walk Out In NJ

Many parents and New Providence residents voiced their support for the students actions on Wednesday on a community forum.

"The activism of these young people is truly inspiring!" said one resident.

"Makes me proud as an NPHS alumnus. However, as a high school that is preparing them for college and adulthood, the NPHS administration should support their students' constitutional right to free speech and protest. A public institution in this country should empower individuals to be part of the political discourse rather than silent observers," said another.

"As Baby Boomers, we have failed them. Hopefully their collective voices will be heard and they can change the world for the better in ways we weren’t able to...starting with with stricter access to the weapons of war that are slaughtering them in their schools. New Providence may think it’s immune but if it happened in a school like MSD in an affluent suburb in Florida, it could happen here! God bless every single one of them who are willing to stand up for what they believe in. They are better than us! #ENOUGH" said another.

Parents even sported orange ribbons on their properties and doors to show their support. Karen Cornell Byrnes helped distribute the ribbons with her daughter on Tuesday.

"I offered to get orange ribbon for the New Providence Community and I was inundated with private messages and texts of parents wanting me to drop at their house. My daughter and I drove around town for 2 a half hours delivering ribbon. I then left 10 rolls of ribbon by my front door with scissors and, when I woke up this am, all of it was gone!" said Byrnes.

The 17-minute walkout is one of hundreds that was 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')

Photo: Karen Cornell Byrnes

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