Students Walk Out To Protest Gun Violence In Schools
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PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Students at more than 2,500 schools across the nation streamed out of their classrooms Friday morning as part of a National School Walkout.
"Our voices will be heard. We will not be silenced by the negative comments and the negative feedback that we receive," said Alyza Foster, student at CAPA.
More than 100 CAPA students marched from the classroom to Market Square at 10:45 Friday morning, holding orange signs that read "Never Forget" and chanting "Hey, hey PSA- we want schools without in it!"
A fresh shooting just happened hours before at a school in Florida, just 65 miles northwest of Orlando. As Florida police begin to investigate, Foster said she's demanding action.
"There always going to be somebody in opposition to what you're doing and you can't let it stop you," said Foster.
Students nationwide walked out of the classroom around 10 a.m. and then observed a moment of silence for shooting victims. Some teachers used it as a learning opportunity.
"This is more than a partisan issue and particularly as someone who works in a school and spends so much time here every day, it's important to me that the students feel safe and that they feel their voices heard," said Kate Harris, social studies teacher at CAPA.
KDKA's helicopter flew high above other schools taking part in our area. Hundreds of teens in Mount Lebanon gathered on the school's football field. At Franklin Regional High School, a school not unfamiliar with violence in the halls, the students gathered on the sidewalk across the street. Students divided into two groups: one group for those who want gun reform and another group for those who do not. Both groups agreed they want safer schools.
The students from CAPA stood in silence in Market Square for 13 minutes and 47 seconds.
"Thirteen minutes to remember the 13 people who died in the shooting at Columbine 19 years ago. Forty-seven seconds represents the 47 young people who die each day from gun violence," said Foster.
