Incredible reaction as students across the US walk out
Students across the United States have walked out of the classroom in protest over gun violence in the wake of the Texas school shooting which left 19 primary school students and two teachers dead.
Teens have expressed their frustration at the lack of stronger action on gun control laws in states across the country.
From the east coast to the west coast, they sent a powerful message to lawmakers.
At Meridian High School in Virginia, just a 15 minute drive from the White House, students held a "die-in" as they laid on the ground of their football field.
Further north students at Oxford High School, who personally know the horrors of school shootings, also walked out to their athletic field. They formed an O, seemingly for Oxford, and then a U for Uvalde, the Texas town where the latest shooting occurred.
Oxford High School experienced a mass shooting event in November when four students were killed.
"How is any student supposed to come here and feel safe?" student Alaysasia Dean asked Detroit's local ABC affiliate.
Thousands of students across the nation are participating in a nationwide #walkout calling for gun control action following the school shooting in Texas.
This video from @bigcashBash shows how students in a California high school are protesting. 👇🏻pic.twitter.com/rfZbjSXXkv— Cristina Corujo (@cristina_corujo) May 26, 2022
Meanwhile students from several schools in the state of Rhode Island, south of Boston, protested by laying on the ground outside the state legislature, with an image of the moment shared by a local Senator.
Students from a few Providence schools walked out today and laid down for 3 min outside the RI State House. Will we pass common sense gun legislation this session in RI? pic.twitter.com/RxJf1WpRcf
— Tiara Mack (@MackDistrict6) May 26, 2022
Protests were seen in New Jersey, New York, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Washington and California, among other states.
The nationwide event was organised by Students Demand Action, a youth activist group aiming to end the scourge of gun violence in the United States.
HAPPENING NOW: Students at Whitefish Bay High School are participating in a walkout protesting gun violence in schools. @CBS58 pic.twitter.com/HaeOldRQCC
— Emerson Lehmann (@ELehmannTV) May 26, 2022
I couldn't be more proud of our students who eloquently spoke about the horrors of school shootings today. I feel we are in good hands with this young generation! #Walkout #CougarNation pic.twitter.com/3Ciye5vfEB
— Columbia High School Principal (@CHSPrincipalNJ) May 26, 2022
The horrific school shooting in Texas on Wednesday was the 27th school shooting in the US this year.
Emma Janoff, a member of the Students Demand Action group, said it was terrifying to see little kids randomly gunned down at their place of learning.
"You see news every day about kids getting shot and people your age dying, and it's just incredibly sad and unbelievable," she told ABC (American Broadcasting Company).
"I can't imagine that being me; but it is imaginable because it happens so often."
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