A planned “National School Walkout” has been scheduled for Wednesday, March 14th to protest gun violence, but the Jackson School District is hoping students can express themselves and their support while still having a good day in school.
The walkout was planned by Women’s March, a liberal protest organization that in the past has organized protests for reproductive rights of women, immigrant rights and environmental justice.
This time, they are asking high school students across America to recognize the one month anniversary of the Stoneman Douglas school shooting by taking 17 minutes out of their school day. Contrary to what many think, the walkout is not intended for students to miss an entire day of school, but to think about those who died during the 17 minute massacre last month in Florida.
“We are living in an age where young people like us do not feel safe in our schools,” Women’s March said. “This issue is personal for all of us, especially for those of us who are survivors of gun violence.”
Women’s March also took time to politicize the event as an anti-police and anti-Americanism movement.
“It is important that when we refer to gun violence, we do not overlook the impact of police brutality and militarized policing, or see police in schools as a solution,” Women’s March said. “We also recognize the United States has exported gun violence through imperialist foreign policy to destabilize other nations. We raise our voices for action against all these forms of gun violence.”
School officials in Jackson realize the event has picked up momentum and issued the following statement.
“We are aware of the national movement to plan student walkouts on March 14 and our plan is to work with students to find ways we can appropriately support them as they peaceably assemble and express themselves,” said District Communications Coordinator Alisson Erwin. “Obviously, we want any demonstration to be an orderly and safe occurrence. We believe there are ways we can support our students in expressing themselves and have a productive school day as well.”
As for the radical, leftist Women’s March organization, they are a collaboration movement that works together with Black Lives Matter and Occupy Wall Street, “empowered by the legions of revolutionary leaders who paved the way for us to march.”
