We Walked Out of School Thursday Because We Are on the Front Lines of Gun Violence

On Thursday at 10 a.m., more than 100 students at our campus, Carroll Senior High School in Southlake, walked out for 17 minutes in response to the Feb. 14 school shooting in Parkland, Fla.With an orange bandana wrapped around my arm, the voice memo recording app on my phone opened and shaky hands holding onto a laminated press pass, I walked alongside a sea of students who have had enough.The gathering began with powerful speeches by the two organizers of the event and one guest speaker who had a personal connection with the shooting in Florida. The speeches were followed by a song by members of the Carroll Choir, a butterfly release to symbolize each of the 17 lives lost, and a tearful moment of silence. Media were not allowed on school property, but a CBS Dallas helicopter live-streamed the event above campus. Students carried signs with powerful quotes and pictures of the victims.Even students who were who were away on field trips or competitions, stood in solidarity with us. Theater students who were on a bus to a competition sat in silence at 10 a.m. for 17 minutes, praying, mourning and crying.  Continue reading...

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