The next round of student anti-gun walkouts is scheduled for this Friday, April 20, which just happens to be the 19th anniversary of the Columbine High School massacre.
Central New York State’s Daily Gazette reports the new demonstrations “promise to be more politically charged events” as the previous March 14 walkouts were more about “commemorating” those who died in the Parkland, Florida shooting.
Two students from Parkland’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High will join students from local districts at the demonstration in the Albany, New York Capital District.
“This is supposed to be a full-day showing that we’re not going to back down; we’re not just here until our attention span distracts us,” said Caroline Crowell, a junior at Albany Academy. “We are going to be here. We are going to stay here, stay raising our voices … ”
Unfortunately for many students, school administrators will be treating Friday as any other school day, meaning no forgiveness of absences.
Those absences are disciplined under codes of conduct, which spell out a range of consequences, including detentions, and take into account each student’s history of missing school days.
“April 20th will be treated like a normal school day, so students will face the same disciplinary consequences as any other day,” Saratoga Springs school district spokeswoman Maura Manny said on Monday, citing the district’s code of conduct.
Matt Leon, Niskayuna school district spokesman, also said students would be given an unexcused absence for leaving class and would be disciplined under the code of conduct. …
Many students said the March 14 walkouts were overly influenced by school and district administrators, who worked with students to address safety and other concerns.
“This is more about actually having that student voice that we originally wanted and didn’t get to have,” said Albany High School senior Erin Lippitt. “That’s why a lot of us want to be involved now, because we see what our schools did and how we were censored and how we want to push past that and show our full support.”
Students from the Shenendehowa Central School District put forth a set of demands to lawmakers including funds for “devices that make it harder for an intruder to enter classrooms,” longer wait times to buy a firearm, and a ban on teachers carrying firearms in schools. They also claim they want all voices to be heard:
“The walkout is not anti-gun, nor is it pro-gun. At its core, the walkout is a way to promote dialogue and spark change.”
Ironically, Columbine students are not participating in the walkout; for them, Friday is a “day of service.”
Read the full Gazette article.
MORE: Student supports 2nd Amendment at walkout, gets tossed off campus
MORE: UGA students demand college forgive HSers who join anti-gun walkouts
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