Solon Walkout: Students Will Protest For Stricter Gun Laws

SOLON, OH — A group of Solon students will participate in the National School Walkout on March 14. Leaders of the protest have said they want safer schools, free of gun violence, and are demanding stricter gun laws be put in place by legislators.

“Too many times government officials have sent thoughts and prayers without translating them into policy and change,” said Solon High School senior Pranav Iyer, one of the student leaders for the event. “Our student body is coming together to say enough and this event is just the first step for us to become involved in the process and make our voices heard.”

Protests have been planned at high schools across the nation after 17 people were shot to death and numerous others were injured during a Valentine's Day attack at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida. Expelled student Nikolas Cruz purchased his alleged murder weapon legally despite a history of contacts with authorities and bizarre behavior.

The Solon walkout will include several minutes of life as a memorial for the victims of the Florida shooting. The Solon show choir will sing a song and students will wear orange, the color of gun violence awareness.

“It’s tragic that lawmakers have decided that the safety of students is worth less than the effort it takes to undergo a simple background check or waiting period,” said Solon High School senior Joseph Feng.

The students said they do not want to restrict Second Amendment rights, they simply want to make it harder for criminals and people with mental illness to get guns or use high-capacity semi-automatic weapons to carry out attacks. "Gun reform may be a partisan issue at times, but keeping kids and teachers safe in school never should be," Iyer said.

The walkout has gained bipartisan support at the high school with both the Young Democrats club and the Young Conservatives club issuing support for the protest. The district administration has also been supportive of the event, working with students to ensure a safe walk-out.

Solon students have also organized a gun control debate and voter registration drive, as well as calls to state and national representatives. Those events will take place after the walkout.

“If the biggest thing a student is worried about is not failing a test, there’s something wrong,” added Solon High School senior Vikas Jain.

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