Local students participate in national walkout day

By: Chloe Leshner

cleshner@abc6.com

@ChloeLeshner

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Today is the 19th anniversary of the Columbine shooting that left 12 students and 1 teacher dead. At thousands of schools across the country today, students are walking out of class, taking a stance for changes in gun laws.

Here in Rhode Island, 8th graders at the Gordon School organized a walkout to show their support for the cause.

"I feel angry that we can’t protect our kids, like me. Something has to change," says 8th grader Alexander Orth.

As thousands of students across the nation do the same, about 100 5th through 8th graders walk out of class, standing in solidarity with those who have been impacted by gun violence.

"I hope no kid is in a position where they ever feel scared in school because I feel really safe in my school and I think every kid in the whole world should feel that way," says Eliza Nelson.

Students carried 17 signs, each with the name of a victim from the Parkland, Florida shooting. They paused for 17 seconds of silence for each victim.

"I feel like people don’t really think about it happening until it does," says Kennedy Wallace.

The students were inspired by the survivors speaking out and organized the entire thing themselves. School administration proud of their ambition to work for change.

"If they can’t than who will? I think that we have to have hope and we’re the models for that as educators," says Lynn Bowman, the middle school division director at the Gordon School.

Just before the walkout, another school shooting in Ocala, Florida left 1 person injured and another in custody.

"We just have to keep doing this over and over until something changes. As a student it’s really tough, it,s like am I next," questions Orth.

The younger students also took part in a way that was more age appropriate. Fourth graders focused on how young people can make their voices heard while learning an activist song.

(C) WLNE/ABC 6 2018