Hundreds Of D.C.-Area Students Stage Gun Violence Protest At The White House
WASHINGTON ― As part of Wednesday’s nationwide walkout against gun violence, hundreds of students from Washington-area schools gathered at the White House before marching to the U.S. Capitol, in a bid to take their gun reform message directly to lawmakers.
A lot of D.C. area students outside White House for gun violence walkout, with more arriving every minute, chanting “enough is enough” and “the NRA has got to go” pic.twitter.com/OIgI5yepgn
— Marina Fang (@marinafang) March 14, 2018
At 10 a.m., they sat for a 17-minute moment of silence in honor of the victims of last month’s massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, with some students holding posters with the names of the dead.
President Donald Trump wasn’t there to see their protest as he was completing a trip to California.
Students told HuffPost that they had gathered early Wednesday morning at their schools in nearby suburbs and then took the Metro into the city.
Billy Scott, a student at Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring, Maryland, said that like many other schools, his held a moment of silence on Wednesday. But he thought that participating in a protest at the White House would be a bigger show of support for gun violence victims.
“Coming to D.C., coming to the White House, is a whole other thing to get our point across,” he said. “Power in numbers, right?”
Vasiliki Frantzis, from Winston Churchill High School in Potomac, Maryland, said that she remembered the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in 2012, which she said made her think about why people “would try to bring a gun into school.”
A creative sign from Vasiliki Frantzis from Winston Churchill High in Maryland. Guns “should be regulated because they are dangerous,” she says. pic.twitter.com/2tRHR462x7
— Marina Fang (@marinafang) March 14, 2018
Rohan Kurup, from Northwood High School in Montgomery County, Maryland, said that he normally has not taken part in student protests, but was inspired this time.
“Maybe I should,” he said. “I don’t want to get shot at school.”
Most of the students who spoke to HuffPost said that school administrators and teachers seemed sympathetic toward students’ participation in Wednesday’s walkout, although they couldn’t publicly express that support. In fact, many schools nationwide have said they will penalize students with unexcused absences.
Callie Newburgh and Chloe Appel, from Magruder High School in Rockville, Maryland, said some administrators were worried that “pro-gun people would put us in harm’s way.”
Appel estimated that about half of her school’s students were active in the protests, some at the White House and others at a lunchtime moment of silence at their school.
“The other half thinks it’s useless because we’re minors,” Appel said. “There are so many minors being affected by this. We can really make a difference, even if we’re not 18.”
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A sampling of other signs. pic.twitter.com/43tJsZP4an
— Marina Fang (@marinafang) March 14, 2018
Some students held signs noting that they would soon be old enough to vote, and their many chants included “Rock the vote.”
“We’re the next generation,” Scott said.
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Also on HuffPost
A creative sign from Vasiliki Frantzis from Winston Churchill High in Maryland. Guns “should be regulated because they are dangerous,” she says. pic.twitter.com/2tRHR462x7
— Marina Fang (@marinafang) March 14, 2018
Students at Gov. Thomas Johnson High School participate in the #NationalWalkoutDay in front of the school. @frednewspost pic.twitter.com/Af1DpavJMh
— Graham Cullen (@FNP_Cullen) March 14, 2018
The students are leading the way. #ENOUGH #EndGunViolence #NationalSchoolWalkout pic.twitter.com/dNQipCr5Xb
— Lisa Barry (@llbnyny) March 14, 2018
#NationalSchoolWalkout #Enough pic.twitter.com/Wg1gkKTAP8
— CPHS (@CPHS_RAIDER) March 14, 2018
Pretty remarkable over a 1,000 students sitting down and in silence for 6 mins now. #NYC School #Walkout with LaGuardia High School #Parkland #fightingGunViolence pic.twitter.com/azmqPAfwtk
— Marta Dhanis (@MartaDhanis) March 14, 2018
#NationalWalkoutDay #NeverAgain #WeStandWithParkland #March4OurLives pic.twitter.com/3Kxw2ObwOS
— AshleiDoesArt//RaiseMe Intern (@ArtAshlei) March 14, 2018
Standing in solidarity at August Martin High School for the #NationalSchoolWalkout. Congress must act NOW to end gun violence. #Enough #EnoughIsEnough pic.twitter.com/5QjFI5a1Me
— Adrienne Adams (@AdrienneEAdams) March 14, 2018
The @CentralFalls_RI High School students who walked out of class today for #NationalSchoolWalkout #NationalWalkOutDay. #CentralFalls pic.twitter.com/914o4LlEA6
— Jonathan Bissonnette (@J_Bissonnette) March 14, 2018
Rambler students lock arms in solidarity against gun violence. #StudentsStandUp #Enough walkout pic.twitter.com/CLmn7aGHNa
— Eastern High School (@EasternHS) March 14, 2018
About 1,000 students, plus teachers, packed the balconies of the Westborough High School for today's #enough walkout, protesting gun laws. pic.twitter.com/aPiFIttuDr
— Alison Bosma (@AlisonBosma) March 14, 2018
One month after #Stoneman Douglas, day of remembrance at Spanish River HS. 17 minute #NationalWalkoutDay. pic.twitter.com/xIGhckSwbg
— Renee Richar (@RicharRenee) March 14, 2018
Students at Booker T Washington High School in Atlanta talking a knee as part of the #NationalWalkoutDay protests. pic.twitter.com/bZpU8kQNjl
— Jamiles Lartey (@JamilesLartey) March 14, 2018
Students participate in the Woodland Hills Students Against Gun Violence Walkout. #NationalStudentWalkout pic.twitter.com/pgzbcVhAko
— Andrew Rush (@andrewrush) March 14, 2018
So proud of these kids leading the change! #Enough #walkout #WalkoutWednesday #YCS #NYC #PS151 #NoMore pic.twitter.com/XB4JBo9HcC
— Erin Farrell Talbot (@FarrellTalbot) March 14, 2018
Extremely proud to call myself a charger today. What we did was incredible. 💙⚡️💛 #enough #EnoughIsEnough #nationalwalkoutday pic.twitter.com/7whrlwd63j
— Mackenzie (@mackenzie0724) March 14, 2018
#Bethlehem High School students during #NationalWalkoutDay on Wednesday pic.twitter.com/O1ND3mOixY
— Albany County Legis. (@DemMajority) March 14, 2018
Hundreds of students walk out of class across #Boulder County to protest gun violence https://t.co/kttjUpgoWi #nationalwalkoutday pic.twitter.com/iBzeSuULII
— Daily Camera (@dailycamera) March 14, 2018
This article originally appeared on HuffPost.