Women’s March Youth EMPOWER is calling for students, teachers, school administrators, parents and allies to take part in a#NationalSchoolWalkout for 17 minutes at 10am across every time zone on March 14, 2018 to protest Congress’ inaction to do more than tweet thoughts and prayers in response to the gun violence plaguing our schools and neighborhoods. We need action. Students and allies are organizing the national school walkout to demand Congress pass legislation to keep us safe from gun violence at our schools, on our streets and in our homes and places of worship.

The SAFEST (South Asian Fund for Education, Scholarship, and Training) Youth Leadership team, which aims to bring youth to the front lines of reform, is calling on school administrations to cooperate with their students so that students may participate in their school walkouts in the safest and most efficient and worry-free way possible. Being a team consisting only of youth, we understand the concerns other youth may have regarding their participation in the School Walkouts and wish to address most by asking school administrations to cooperate with their students, so that students will not have to worry about missing school or being punished. We encourage anyone with questions or concerns to contact us at southasianyouthleadershipteam@gmail.com.

Students and staff have the right to teach and learn in an environment free from the worry of being gunned down in their classrooms or on their way home from school.

Parents have the right to send their kids to school in the mornings and see them home alive at the end of the day.

We are not safe at school. We are not safe in our cities and towns. Congress must take meaningful action to keep us safe and pass federal gun reform legislation that address the public health crisis of gun violence. We want Congress to pay attention and take note: many of us will vote this November and many others will join in 2020.

Join us in saying #ENOUGH!