30 Powerful Signs From Students in National School Walkout for Stricter Gun Laws

I’m so proud of Oregon students who are making their voices heard, and encouraged by the youth-led movement to end gun violence. I stopped this morning at Roosevelt High school to hear from and support students calling for gun safety measures. We must do more and need federal legislation to keep our schools and communities safe. #NationalSchoolWalkout #NeverAgain #NationalWalkoutDay #EndGunViolence #gunviolence

A post shared by Governor Kate Brown (@oregongovbrown) on Mar 14, 2018 at 11:00am PDT

On Wednesday, March 14, 2018, thousands of students across the United States walked out of class in a show of solidarity for stricter gun laws. A generation raised in a world where school shootings are becoming the norm put their foot down and said “enough” after the horrifying Valentine’s Day shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida that took the lives of 17 people.

Starting around 10 am, students around the country walked out of class for 17 minutes to symbolize one minute for each life lost in the Parkland shooting. While these peaceful walkouts had caused some concern for students, who were afraid they would be penalized for participating, children of all ages made sure their voices were heard through creative signs and moving speeches.

Chants and rallying cries for reform could be heard, with students calling on government officials and the White House to make concrete steps toward preventing future violence. Specifically, the National Student Walkout is calling for Congress to make three specific changes: ban assault weapons, require universal background checks to purchase guns, and pass a gun violence restraining order that would allow the court to strip people of weapons if they display signs of violent behavior.

“This is not a matter of left versus right. This is a matter of public safety,” Cate Whitman, a junior at LaGuardia High School in New York, told CNN. “We’re all working together, which is something we haven’t seen from the adults in a very long time.”

Thousands of students across America walked out of class in a show of solidarity for the #EnoughIsEnough movement.

Exeter High School 10th grader Jack Anderson at today’s #NationalSchoolWalkout @seacoastonline pic.twitter.com/QDLoYF7KQQ

— Hadley Barndollar (@hbarndollar) March 14, 2018

Children from Fairmount Elementary make their way through the streets. Voices loud and with passion. Kids deserve a safe future. . . . #enoughisenough #notonemore #kidsarethefuture #safeschools #guncontrol #protest #gunviolence #nomoreguns #walkout #youngleaders #leaders #sanfrancisco #thesanfrancisco

A post shared by santosnieto (@nietos_photo) on Mar 15, 2018 at 7:21am PDT

pic.twitter.com/yW6BookpF4

— David Mack (@davidmackau) March 14, 2018

so proud to be part of this movement #walkoutforguncontrol #enoughisenough

A post shared by @ soha_sheikh on Mar 14, 2018 at 1:30pm PDT

These students from Bethesda Chevy Chase High School in MD did *not* get permission to come out here, did it anyway. #NationalSchoolWalkout pic.twitter.com/FFeK7q2HBy

— Nathalie Baptiste (@nhbaptiste) March 14, 2018

The future looks BRIGHT AF #nationalwalkoutday . . . : occupy.com . . . #walkout #studentwalkout #marchforourlives #parkland #gunreform #guncontrol #thevoiceofj #america #msdstrong #democracy #protest #resist #change #changenow #standup #dosomething #wtf #notonemore #nonviolent #protestsigns

A post shared by The Voice of J (@thevoiceofj) on Mar 15, 2018 at 7:59am PDT

One of signs at Inman MS in Atlanta for #NationalWalkoutDay pic.twitter.com/9MvYwPEmyy

— Steve Gehlbach (@SteveGWSB) March 14, 2018

Creative and emotional protest signs focus on the rallying cry around stricter gun laws to reduce school shootings.

“It’s easier to buy a gun than my education.” We are in absolute awe of all the young people who took part in #NationalWalkoutDay to protest gun violence and demand action on gun control. Enough is enough. We must rally behind this new generation of inspiring activists. Did you participate in yesterday’s events or do you plan to show up for #MarchForOurLives?

A post shared by Middle East Collective (@middleeastcollective) on Mar 15, 2018 at 5:29am PDT

A student named Alex has brought this sign to the #NationalSchoolWalkout in DC pic.twitter.com/Et630jrJQ8

— Kayla Epstein (@KaylaEpstein) March 14, 2018

17 minutes for 17 lives #enoughisenough #bhswalkout

A post shared by L.T. Tyner (@tynerbutmighty) on Mar 15, 2018 at 7:23am PDT

Albany High senior Ashma Thapa said she was not allowed to march with this sign, which the school deemed too political. “Can you get a photo of me with it anyway?” she asked. #nationalschoolwalkout #enough #NationalWalkoutDay pic.twitter.com/VxRifSy8AF

— Bethany Bump (@bethanybump) March 14, 2018

Atlanta 8th grader made this sign for #NationalSchoolWalkout that starts in 5 min pic.twitter.com/q7Qs6bQ0OT

— Steve Gehlbach (@SteveGWSB) March 14, 2018

I know I might get a lot of hate for posting this but yesterday I stood up for all of the victims of gun violence I will not sit still while there are many out there who are suffering because of gun violence. But yesterday’s walk out wasn’t about that. It was about the victims. We honored all of the victims of the recent Florida shooting taking 17 minutes to honor them. #wearechange #change #gunviolence #enoughisenough

A post shared by Sarah Yaeger (@sarah25876) on Mar 15, 2018 at 6:12am PDT

Stop sending us to school to die#Enough #NationalWalkoutDay pic.twitter.com/R8txeyiVvz

— Mari Copeny (@LittleMissFlint) March 14, 2018