How you can participate in the 2018 national school walkout

Following the tragic school shooting in Parkland, Florida, students are taking the lead to demand gun reform by staging a national school walkout.

Following the school shooting in Parkland, Florida, there has been a strong call to action from those affected in Florida as well as many across the country. Those most hurt by these shootings — the students — will take the lead to demand gun reform.

That action will be a national school walkout set for Wednesday, March 14. It is being planned by organizers of the Women’s March and focused on protesting gun violence.

This event follows Florida’s own protest from this past Friday, Feb. 16 when teens held a walkout at South Broward High School.

On Saturday, Feb. 17, survivors held a rally to demand gun reform. Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School student Emma Gonzalez, a survivor of the shooting, was one such prominent voice, speaking out against idle political action:

"All these people should be at home grieving. But instead we are up here, standing together, because if all our government and president can do is send “thoughts and prayers,” then it’s time for victims to be the change that we need to see."

Gonzalez’s speech has made waves as being a strong, clear and very necessary message about gun violence and gun laws.

As Gonzalez said, those impacted the most by school shootings will become the change, starting with the national walkout in March.

Just searching the hashtag #NationalSchoolWalkout on Twitter pulls up endless supportive messages and scheduled events across the country.

Enough is enough! Women's March Youth EMPOWER is calling for students, teachers, school administrators, parents and…

Posted by Women's March on Friday, February 16, 2018

The Women’s March Youth EMPOWER group provided details for the walkout with an invite to the event reading:

"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 10 a.m. 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 walkout will last for 17 minutes in honor of the17 individuals who lost their lives in the Parkland, Florida shooting.

This event will not stand on its own, as many other walkouts and marches are being planned following it. Another walkout is set for Friday, April 20, the 19th anniversary of the Columbine High School shooting. The fact that it has been 19 years since that tragic mass shooting and youth are still fighting for justice proves why these events are more necessary than ever.

Along with these school walkouts, there will be a march in Washington, D.C. on March 24 called March for our Lives.

Want to support the walkouts but not in school, or can’t attend the event in D.C.? There are still plenty of ways to get involved.

You can help schools and organizations by volunteering during the protests. If you know a teen or work with children, discuss how you can best support them and their protest efforts. Sharing useful information such as the ACLU’s guide explaining protester’s rights can help teens understand their First Amendment rights.

Finally, you can call or write your representatives to express support for the walkouts and let them know why gun reform is important to you.

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As the 2018 midterm elections approach, only some of these young voices participating in the national school walkout will be able to vote.

However, the action they’re demanding and the impact they’ve created so far are sure to influence those making it to the polls.