What is this?

This school walkout was organized by the Women’s March in response to the school shooting in Parkland, Florida which resulted in the death of 17 students and teachers. They have defined the event as such:  “A mass school walkout, led by youth, to protest Congress’ inaction to do more than tweet thoughts and prayers after school shootings. We need action. We demand Congress pass sensible legislation that would help keep us and our loved ones safe from gun violence at school, and beyond. Since Sandy Hook there have been over 200 school shootings resulting in over 400 people shot since sandy hook.”

On Wednesday, March 14th, South High students will be walking out of our classrooms at 10am for 17 minutes (1 minute for every individual who has passed). Our ultimate goal is to make this walkout as peaceful and organized as possible, while also outwardly standing in solidarity with the students in Parkland, Florida and around the nation. The details of the walkout can be found below:

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Before the walkout:

1. Wear orange on the day of the walkout (color for gun control/awareness) and bring posters to school if you would like to make one!

You can leave your posters in Ms.Shultz's room (P-4) in the morning to store them until you would need to pick them up.

2. Make sure to tell your third period teachers (as the walkout will occur during their class) that you are participating in the walkout in advance. We are very fortunate to have full staff and admin support with this event, however we want to make sure to show full respect and still maintain communication with them!

During the walkout:

3. Attend your regularly scheduled classes, including your third period, and walkout of your classrooms at 10 AM.  Head to the blacktop area near the Pavilion as quickly and quietly as possible, as we are only going to be out of our classrooms for 20 minutes (3 minutes to account for walking to and from class).

4. Once you reach the blacktop there will be student speakers as well as tables where you can find information on how to get more involved with this movement. Listen to the speakers and sign-up for anything that you see fit! There will be opportunities to send in comments for news articles, to sign-up as someone interested in the March for Our Lives event, as well as information on how to write letters to our representatives!

5. Document! This is a nationwide event, and one of the biggest student-led ones at that. Remember this moment and don't be afraid to use your voice online! We are one out of hundreds of schools participating in this event, and there is a large probability of it gaining news coverage; it would be so amazing to see South as a part of that coverage!

6. Once 17 minutes have passed, we will announce that the walkout has ended. There will be an area to place any posters you may have to store. Make sure you have gotten all of the information that you need, and then begin to head back to your 3rd periods (again, quickly and quietly so as to not disturb others).

After the Walkout:

7. Continue to use your voice! Being part of this protest is already a big move, but it doesn't have to end there! The information provided at the tables will have simple ways to continue to take action.

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.

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!