Hatboro-Horsham Students Hold Walkout, But Not About Gun Control

HORSHAM, PA — Hundreds of Hatboro-Horsham High School students walked out of school Wednesday morning at the same time as students around the nation who were participating in the National Student Walkout. But although the Hatboro-Horsham event took place at the same time, it had a markedly different goal than the national event.

"This is a nonpartisan event," a student representative said from a stage outside of the school. "We are not here to fight for or against gun control. We are here to represent respect for the students that lost their lives last month at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School."

Hundreds of students participated in the event, and were joined by State Representative Todd Stephens (R-151) and members of the Hatboro-Horsham School Board.

Hundreds of walkouts and related activities - many of them with different stated goals - were held across the nation Wednesday at 10 a.m. as part of the National School Walkout. The event is in honor of the 17 victims massacred at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida on Valentine's Day.

But according to national organizers, the walkouts are meant to be more than a memorial. While the national campaign does not point to specific legislation, characterizing their stance only as "meaningful federal gun reform," it does specifically demand "more than tweets of thoughts and prayers" as a response.

The program during the walkout included a reading of the names of the lives lost in Florida. While it did not touch on gun control, it spoke to the importance of empowering civic engagement in young people everywhere.

"We as students have a voice, and the power to change our country and our future," the student representative continued, before adding: "We please ask for your respect during these 17 minutes."

The behavior of the Hatboro-Horsham School Board differed from nearby districts. While the district worked with students to create the walkout - even if it was different from the National Student Walkout - other districts refused to allow any walkout. In neighboring districts like Spring-Ford and Council Rock, students will be disciplined for walking out of school Wednesday.

Watch a stream of the Hatboro-Horsham event below:

Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images