Students across the country participated in National Walkout Day Wednesday, to show solidarity with victims on the one-month anniversary of the Parkland, Florida shooting that left 17 dead. Students from Carroll High School were just a few to participate.
Dozens of students walked out Wednesday despite efforts from the school district to limit demonstrations.
Northwest Allen County Schools informed students and parents that anyone who took part in Wednesday’s demonstration would be given a truancy violation. With other regional districts encouraging students and teachers to participate in the walkouts in different ways, NACS didn’t flinch on its position. As spokesperson Lizette Downey told WBOI Tuesday, instead of doing a walk “out,” the district suggested students walk “up.”
“Walk up to the kid who sits alone at lunch, invite them to sit with you. Walk up to the kid who sits quietly in the corner, smile and say hi,” said Downey. “We had come across and really liked the feel of that; it’s a little more thoughtful and thought-provoking.”
Despite the district’s efforts, dozens of Chargers from all levels walked out anyway, huddling in the 27-degree weather in silence for 17 minutes -- one minute for each victim from Parkland.
Mike Yaroch is a senior at Carroll. For him, the walkout had little to do with politics; he says it’s about making sure schools are a safe place for the nation’s kids.
“If our administration isn’t going to do anything, I want them to know that there’s more of us that are scared for our lives than just the few they think are the troublemakers,” Yaroch said.
Students returned to class following the walkout. Two more movements related to guns are anticipated in Fort Wayne: one is a local rally in conjunction with the national March for our Lives on the 24th, the other is another school walkout on April 20: the anniversary of the Columbine shooting.
