On March 14, 2018 at 10:00 am, high school students across the nation are going to walk out of class for seventeen minutes to protest school violence.

The idea was formalized and planned by the survivors of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. Among them are Emma Gonzalez, and many others. Gonzalez gave a speech calling for a nationwide walkout saying that, “These kids are going to make this difference because the adults let us down,” and, “You are either with us or against us at this point.”

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Now, students will honor the 17 victims of the shooting around the country and at North Allegheny. A group of students at NAI have chosen to lead this event to make it organized and spread information in an efficient way. It is not affiliated with the school district and is not a school-sponsored event, but the administration is aware of the plans.

This walkout is a chance for students to have their voices heard and express their first amendment rights. It is a way for students to band together and hopefully make a change in our country. The leaders of the walkout stress that this is not a political protest and does not have anything to do with political parties, but the sole purpose is to spread awareness about the safety of schools and to get Congress to make major changes in legislation which improve the safety of students.

In recent years, there have been many school shootings and acts of gun violence –more than other countries in the world– and Congress has failed to make permanent, lasting legislative changes. The hope for the walkout is to get their attention and show the government how desperate the need for change is.  

The leaders of the NAI Walkout organization spoke to Dr. Hyland and confirmed that it would be safe for students with no consequences if they walk out. Additionally, students who choose not to participate in the walkout, of course, would not be required to do so.