In response to the Feb. 14 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, students throughout the nation will be participating in a school walkout on Mar. 14 to demand that Congress reform gun control laws in order to ensure safety in schools. Many Edina High School students plan to participate in the walkout, which will start at 10:00 AM and last for 17 minutes, to represent the 17 Stoneman Douglas students and staff members who died last month.

Seniors Jhamese Harvey, Anna Lamprom, Max North, Saumya Mangalick, Lily Goldaris, and junior Sally Carlson will lead the walkout and have been coordinating with the EHS administration. While the administration cannot be directly affiliated with the walkout, they are respectful of students’ rights to protest, and have informed staff members that students will be allowed to leave class to participate. Students who participate in the walkout plan to be dressed in orange, the national symbol of solidarity to stop gun violence, and at 10:00 AM will silently walk outside the back of EHS, the bus roundabout. The students will listen to speeches by North and Harvey, commemorate the 17 victims, and then silently head back to class by 10:35. “It’s going to be a very powerful scenery,” Harvey said.

Harvey and the other student leaders want this to be a powerful statement and an opportunity to unite as a student body against violence in schools. The walkout is bipartisan and will include more than just students. “We want to make sure the whole world sees this march. It’s not just going to be students. The march will include many people who support the students here,” Harvey said. The leaders have reached out to news stations and community members asking for support and help attracting government officials’ attention. The walkout is a part of a nationwide movement encouraging students, admin, parents, and allies to stand together for the victims and send a message to Congress that it’s time for gun law reform. Edina students’ participation is important because “people need to see that Edina is evolving and becoming a more diverse and open place,” Harvey said.

While the walkout is open to everyone, those who choose not to participate will not be reprimanded. Ultimately, anyone is allowed to participate whether you are there to remember the 17 victims, to support gun law reform, or both. If you want to learn more about the walkout and how to participate, contact any of the student leaders.