Students from the high schools across the Chapel Hill – Carrboro City Schools District walked out of class on Friday morning protesting gun violence.

Sign at student walkout protesting gun violence. Photo via Blake Hodge.

The walkout was coordinated with national protests, which were held on the anniversary of the Columbine shooting in 1999. This is the second gun violence protest in recent weeks after a March 14 rally on campuses across the district marking the one-month anniversary of the shooting at a high school in Parkland, Florida, where 17 people were killed.

Students at Friday’s rally were continuing their push for legislative action on firearm regulations, including universal enforcement of background checks and raising the eligible age to purchase a firearm.

“It’s exciting,” CHCCS board member James Barrett said at the rally. “Enough is enough. It’s time for a change, and I’m really really glad that they’re speaking out and making a change.”

Students chanted “I’d rather be suspended than have our lives ended,” among other chants at the rally. That comes after the school district sent a message to parents earlier in the week saying students walking out of class and leaving campus would be treated as a violation of the code of conduct. The district did not punish students who walked out of class and held on-campus rallies in March.

Crowd at student walkout protesting gun violence. Photo via Blake Hodge.

“I don’t want to prejudge that, what may actually happen out of that,” Barrett said. “You certainly have to draw the line somewhere as administration, and we’ll see how it goes from here. It’s hard to say.”

The students at the rally seemed to embrace a punishment possibly being associated with their civil disobedience.

Barrett’s overall message to the students was to keep pushing for change.

“Don’t give up,” he said. “This is going to be a long fight, and we need to take it to Raleigh as well. And I hope they continue to stay active and involved.”

One of those lawmakers from Raleigh who was in attendance Friday was Grier Martin – a Democratic House Representative in the state legislature.

Crowd at student walkout protesting gun violence. Photo via Blake Hodge.

“My generation,” Martin said, “only reason we should be here is to listen. This is the new generation that’s really going to bring about change. They recognize that our failure to address the issue of gun violence by my generation has a direct impact on their lives, potentially threatening their lives.”

As to what’s Martin said he is hearing from the students, “I’m hearing they want change.”

Students were encouraging their peers to register to vote and had volunteers helping eligible students fill out that necessary paperwork at the rally.

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