Columbus North High School students are planning a walkout Friday to protest gun violence as part of a nationwide effort — and students at the other two city high schools are expected to have walkouts as well.
The 10 a.m. Friday walkout to a spot just outside the high school is being planned by the Columbus North Young Democrats Club, said Megan Furber, a member of the organization. The group, which has 20 to 30 members, has been spreading the word about the walkout to their classmates, Furber said.
The national walkout coincides with the 19th anniversary of the school shootings at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, which resulted in 15 people being killed, including the two teen shooters.
“It’s a good opportunity to spread awareness about gun violence in our country and how we can work toward bettering that,” Furber said.
The walkout, which will include speakers, is planned for 17 minutes, which commemorates the 17 people killed during the Feb. 14 shooting at a high school in Parkland, Florida, which has since sparked nationwide protests.
About 100 Central Middle School students in Columbus staged a similar 17-minute walkout Feb. 21, one week after the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. Central Middle School staff members were outside with the students to make sure everyone acted responsibility. The school district did not attempt to dissuade the middle school students from participating that day.
A month later, several members of the Columbus North Young Democrats Club attended the March 24 March for Our Lives rally in downtown Columbus that was organized by Bartholomew County Indivisible and Moms Demand Action, Furber said.
The North student said gun reform with strengthened background checks is needed in the United States, adding that the Parkland shooting could have been prevented.
Furber said her Columbus North organization has reached out to Columbus East students, who have indicated they are also planning to do a walkout.
Columbus East principal Mark Newell said he had spoken to East students who said they want to do something to honor the victims of the Stoneman Douglas shooting.
“We always value student voice. So when actions they choose to do are done thoughtfully and appropriately, we will be supportive,” Newell said.
The third Columbus high school, Columbus Signature Academy – New Tech, was among more than 2,000 schools across the country that had signed up on a National School Walkout website.
Larry Perkinson, Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. employee and student assistance coordinator with, said Columbus area students will be joining peers from across the country to honor the victims of the Columbine shooting.
There have been 208 school shootings and 154 related deaths since the incident in Columbine 19 years ago, he said.
Perkinson said he anticipates all three Columbus high schools will have walkouts.
“Our students have a passion to express their thoughts here, and I think that’s a great thing,” Perkinson said.
Perkinson said he didn’t expect any disciplinary action resulting from the walkouts — unless it involves actions that violate school policy.
“I’d think we would want to be supportive of our young people,” Perkinson said. “We’ve got great conversations happening between teachers, administrators and students.”
Principal David Clark said he has talked with two students about the organized student walkout at North High School.
“We expect there are kids that will be supportive of that effort,” Clark said.
However, Clark questioned what students would be accomplishing just by stepping outside the building during the school day.
Furber said the walkout is about building awareness for change in the nation’s gun laws.
“We don’t think it’s a left or right issue,” Furber said. “We think it’s something that everyone can advocate for.”
While advocating for change, she said the main goal of the walkout is to advocate for victims of gun violence and spread awareness.
The Young Democrats Club hopes that teachers will choose to participate as well, Furber said.
“We feel this is something where all students and teachers can unite for one cause,” Furber said.
