District Expects Students To Join National Walkouts March 14

WILSONVILLE, OR — A number of public demonstrations are scheduled to take place this week as students and teachers across the nation plan organized walkouts to protest and memorialize the shooting the occurred at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, Feb. 14.

Following the deaths of 17 people at the hands of yet another school shooter, teens and adults have joined together to call on U.S. congressmen and women to enact stricter gun control laws at the federal level, such as requiring universal background checks and altogether banning assault-style military rifles, like the AR-15.

Despite inaction from federal legislators in the month since the tragic shooting, businesses nationwide have taken it upon themselves to raise the age limit for purchasing firearms as well as removing assault rifles from their inventories. This action has been met with widespread criticism from both sides of the gun argument.

Locally, law enforcement and school districts are bracing for student demonstrations planned for March 14, March 24, and April 20.

The ENOUGH National School Walkout will be held at 10 a.m. March 14, exactly one month from the Florida shooting, and is expected to last 17 minutes — one minute for each life lost.

The West Linn-Wilsonville School District plans to allow the participation of whichever students, staff, and faculty choose to do so without any concern for punishment.

"In the event of national demonstrations … school principals and administration work with student leaders ahead of time to create safe venues for students, while providing alternative forums for expression that avoid disrupting class time," WLWSD spokesman Andrew Kilstrom told Patch in an email. "We are prepared for a number of students across our district's secondary schools to participate in the March 14 event, but do not know what student leaders will plan, if anything, for March 24 or April 20.

"Students are not obligated to participate, and teachers will remain in classrooms to teach students who choose to remain in class," he continued. "Those who do choose to walkout will not be penalized academically for their participation, and attendance will be taken upon their return to class. WLWV involves the West Linn Police Department and Wilsonville Police Department, as well as additional campus supervision from administrators in order to maintain a safe environment during such events."

Nearly 50 different schools in the Portland metro region, from elementary to college, have announced some plan to participate in the day's events.

Image via ShutterStock