Central Coast students plan to participate in National Walkout for Gun Safety
–On Wednesday, March 14, 2018, various schools around the Central Coast will participate in school-wide walkouts to advocate for common sense gun legislation, school safety, and greater mental health resources on school campuses. The walkouts are entirely student-led and will include a variety of speakers and performances, according to a press release submitted by Arroyo Grande High School student and #Enough walk out school organizer Casey Crouch. Each walkout will begin between 9:45 a.m. and 10 a.m. and last 17 minutes — one minute for each of the lives lost at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on February 14, 2018.
“Our hope is that these walkouts will be a positive influence on students by engaging them in the political process and reinforcing the notion that we all have a voice,” said Crouch. “Beyond actually changing gun laws, this movement will raise the standard of national discussion on such issues. The #Enough National School Walkout is about starting a dialogue, and students of the Central Coast, along with students across the country, are uniting to fulfill that purpose.”
“What happened at Parkland has unfortunately become all too commonplace in America,” said San Luis Obispo High School senior Oliver Hicks. “The issue of gun violence has continually been pushed to the side by politicians across the country, so our walkout is an opportunity to show them that students are tired of this inaction and lack of a real discussion. We hope that our efforts will open up a much-needed dialogue instead of just thoughts and prayers.”
Students are encouraged to return to class after the walkout concludes rather than leaving campus. The walkouts are not an excuse to leave class; rather, they are an important opportunity for student voices to be heard in a peaceful and respectful environment. Central Coast students are also encouraged to attend the March For Our Lives on March 24 in Mitchell Park, San Luis Obispo.
Following the tragic events in Parkland, Florida one month ago, schools across the nation have been organizing school walkouts to draw attention to the issue of gun safety, especially on school campuses.
The goal of the walkouts are threefold:
1) To stand in solidarity with our fellow students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas.
2) To share our vision for a better future by advocating for common sense gun legislation and safer schools.
3) To act as ambassadors of a new generation of leaders, each of whom are thoughtful and articulate individuals that want their voices heard by those in power.
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