This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2018/mar/14/wednesday-walkout-gun-control-parkland-florida-students-live
The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Wednesday walkout: students step out of class to spur action on gun control – live | Wednesday walkout: students step out of class to spur action on gun control – live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| In the Baltimore Sun today, schools in the Washington DC and Maryland area signed onto a letter urging Donald Trump and Congress to enact stricter gun control measures | |
| One of the schools to sign on to the letter, St Andrew’s Episcopal School, is where the president’s 11-year-old son, Barron, takes classes. | |
| “As school leaders, we call upon everyone who cares about the education and the welfare of children to urge our government to act,” the letter said. | |
| “We need our teachers to be able to teach. We need our students to be able to learn. And we need everyone in every school around the country to feel safe.” | |
| Richard Luscombe, who has been covering the school shooting in Florida and its aftermath, reports from Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school: | |
| At 10am, about 3,000 students poured into the school’s football field, where exactly one month ago many were running for their lives. | |
| Principal Ty Thompson commended his students for their strength over the last few weeks and praised them for their #Never Again campaign for gun reform. | |
| “We are going to make change. It’s already started,” he told them. | |
| There was silence as the song Shine played. | |
| “There were lots of emotions, many people were crying, we were thinking of the 17 we lost,” said Florence Yared, a junior. | |
| Banners of support from all over the world partly obscured the freshman building where most of the victims died, and according to Yared gave the survivors a lift as they walked out of their classes. | |
| Yared said the mood of the students this morning was reflective. “It’s weird to think about because in our heads we have this idea what school is, and it’s not now that same thing for anyone,” she said. | |
| But, she said, that feeling contributed to determination she and her classmates felt about walking out and calling for changes to gun laws nationally. Last week, the Florida governor, Rick Scott, signed into a law a bill that armed some teachers and provided extra money for school security and mental health, while raising the age to buy firearms in Florida to 21. | |
| “It’s a start but we need more,” Yared said. | |
| “There some things I don’t like about the bill, but there are other things that are good, like raising the age, a three-day waiting period, that’s a step in the right direction.” | |
| Demonstrators, ranging from small children to university students to teachers and parents, have shown their support for the protests in different ways. Some have walked out of class, while others link arms in the school hallway. At Cooper City High School in Florida, empty desks were arranged to memorialize the Parkland victims. | |
| 14 desks and 3 podiums stand empty at Cooper City High School in remembrance of the 17 dead at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. pic.twitter.com/OdnyKvStYG | |
| Our amazing BHS students stand with linked arms for a 17 min period of solidarity out of respect for Stoneman Douglas High School! What a stupendous show of support and truly beautiful behavior - impressive! #BPatriotProud #ENOUGH #MSDStrong pic.twitter.com/fsWsMX7LG4 | |
| @bsudailynews pic.twitter.com/ziWw15vsdY | |
| The first round of protests have wrapped up, with students making their way back to class. The next wave will begin in about 30 minutes, when it’s 10am CT. | The first round of protests have wrapped up, with students making their way back to class. The next wave will begin in about 30 minutes, when it’s 10am CT. |
| Meanwhile, Lauren Gambino reports on the latest actions taking place in the nation’s capital: | Meanwhile, Lauren Gambino reports on the latest actions taking place in the nation’s capital: |
| One month after the school massacre in Parkland, the Senate joins the debate around gun violence raging across the country. | One month after the school massacre in Parkland, the Senate joins the debate around gun violence raging across the country. |
| The Senate Judiciary Committee is holding a three-panel hearing on Wednesday morning to discuss what went wrong and what might have prevented the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglass High School. | The Senate Judiciary Committee is holding a three-panel hearing on Wednesday morning to discuss what went wrong and what might have prevented the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglass High School. |
| Florida senators Marco Rubio, a Republican, and Bill Nelson, a Democrat, as well as Ryan Petty, whose daughter Alaina died in the shooting, and Katherine Posada, a teacher at the high school, will testify during today’s hearing. Additionally, federal officials will also take questions from the panel. | Florida senators Marco Rubio, a Republican, and Bill Nelson, a Democrat, as well as Ryan Petty, whose daughter Alaina died in the shooting, and Katherine Posada, a teacher at the high school, will testify during today’s hearing. Additionally, federal officials will also take questions from the panel. |
| In the audience, several members of the antiwar activist group Code Pink wore the color and carried signs that read “NRA out of schools” and “Teachers + Guns = Chaos”. | In the audience, several members of the antiwar activist group Code Pink wore the color and carried signs that read “NRA out of schools” and “Teachers + Guns = Chaos”. |
| At Senate hearing re guns and schools we are here with our messages pic.twitter.com/V3l0j7Mnr0 | At Senate hearing re guns and schools we are here with our messages pic.twitter.com/V3l0j7Mnr0 |
| Reporters and students across the eastern part of the US are sharing scenes from school walkouts. At most of these schools, a moment of silence is being held for 17 minutes, one minute for each of the victims of the Parkland shooting. | Reporters and students across the eastern part of the US are sharing scenes from school walkouts. At most of these schools, a moment of silence is being held for 17 minutes, one minute for each of the victims of the Parkland shooting. |
| In Connecticut: | In Connecticut: |
| Estimating over 100 FHS students marching. #FarmingtonCT pic.twitter.com/OA9YfUcqii | Estimating over 100 FHS students marching. #FarmingtonCT pic.twitter.com/OA9YfUcqii |
| And West Virginia: | And West Virginia: |
| For the next 17 minutes, students will be remembering those killed in the Florida school shooting. #NationalWalkoutDay pic.twitter.com/631pvYmmaR | For the next 17 minutes, students will be remembering those killed in the Florida school shooting. #NationalWalkoutDay pic.twitter.com/631pvYmmaR |
| And Florida: | And Florida: |
| #NationalWalkoutDay all the way from Sarasota High ❤️ pic.twitter.com/LZg9j1e4TI | #NationalWalkoutDay all the way from Sarasota High ❤️ pic.twitter.com/LZg9j1e4TI |
| Walkouts have begun at schools across the East Coast of the US. | Walkouts have begun at schools across the East Coast of the US. |
| Students at Booker T Washington High School in Atlanta talking a knee as part of the #NationalWalkoutDay protests. pic.twitter.com/bZpU8kQNjl | Students at Booker T Washington High School in Atlanta talking a knee as part of the #NationalWalkoutDay protests. pic.twitter.com/bZpU8kQNjl |
| Total silence outside this elementary school, with more than 60 students protesting and dozens of parents watching. Only sound is posters flapping in the wind. pic.twitter.com/4RaG3osZue | Total silence outside this elementary school, with more than 60 students protesting and dozens of parents watching. Only sound is posters flapping in the wind. pic.twitter.com/4RaG3osZue |
| Demonstrators have also gathered outside the White House. | Demonstrators have also gathered outside the White House. |
| Mr. President, look out your window to see what #democracy looks like. This is for the #MSD 17 #GunReformNow #NeverAgain #EnoughIsEnough pic.twitter.com/FHppDYb0Vg | Mr. President, look out your window to see what #democracy looks like. This is for the #MSD 17 #GunReformNow #NeverAgain #EnoughIsEnough pic.twitter.com/FHppDYb0Vg |
| David Hogg, a Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school student, is sharing live video from the high school’s walkout. There are helicopters overhead the school’s protest, which Hogg said reminded him of the day of the shooting. | David Hogg, a Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school student, is sharing live video from the high school’s walkout. There are helicopters overhead the school’s protest, which Hogg said reminded him of the day of the shooting. |
| I'll b live at this link soon https://t.co/ZanbFVnhth | I'll b live at this link soon https://t.co/ZanbFVnhth |
| The Guardian’s Richard Luscombe is also on the scene at MSD, where a large crowd has amassed on the campus football field. | The Guardian’s Richard Luscombe is also on the scene at MSD, where a large crowd has amassed on the campus football field. |
| Students begin #WalkoutWednesday at Stoneman Douglas High School pic.twitter.com/GFKRC6rFVz | Students begin #WalkoutWednesday at Stoneman Douglas High School pic.twitter.com/GFKRC6rFVz |
| Teenage students who survived the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school, and demanded action to curb gun violence in the US, have been sending messages of support to today’s protestors on Twitter. | Teenage students who survived the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school, and demanded action to curb gun violence in the US, have been sending messages of support to today’s protestors on Twitter. |
| Good Luck, Stay Safe, and Kick B*tt to all those walking out of school today ! 💞💞 https://t.co/FGRdXTkrbD | Good Luck, Stay Safe, and Kick B*tt to all those walking out of school today ! 💞💞 https://t.co/FGRdXTkrbD |
| To all the students facing repercussion for walking out, your are on the right side of history. You are standing up for what you believe in, you are standing up for those who can’t anymore. We have a voice, we are demanding to be heard. Do not let anyone frighten you out of this. https://t.co/qBq6RBKxv1 | To all the students facing repercussion for walking out, your are on the right side of history. You are standing up for what you believe in, you are standing up for those who can’t anymore. We have a voice, we are demanding to be heard. Do not let anyone frighten you out of this. https://t.co/qBq6RBKxv1 |
| The first step to changing the world is believing that you can. #walkoutandwalkup | The first step to changing the world is believing that you can. #walkoutandwalkup |
| To the students around the world who are taking leadership positions for themselves and are demanding action without being thrust right into it—Thank you. Your leadership is inspiring. The world will follow us in the right direction. #MarchForOurLives #NeverAgain | To the students around the world who are taking leadership positions for themselves and are demanding action without being thrust right into it—Thank you. Your leadership is inspiring. The world will follow us in the right direction. #MarchForOurLives #NeverAgain |
| This live blog will be collecting information from protests across the country, including dispatches sent by the Guardian’s reporters. | This live blog will be collecting information from protests across the country, including dispatches sent by the Guardian’s reporters. |
| In Virgina, Lois Beckett is already with students preparing for today’s protest. | In Virgina, Lois Beckett is already with students preparing for today’s protest. |
| The walkout at Naomi and Carter’s school will last 18 minutes, with an extra minute added for Courtlin Arrington, who was shot at a school in Alabama. When African-American women are killed “their names aren’t remember, so I thought it was important to add,” Naomi said. pic.twitter.com/xbrejOkYIx | The walkout at Naomi and Carter’s school will last 18 minutes, with an extra minute added for Courtlin Arrington, who was shot at a school in Alabama. When African-American women are killed “their names aren’t remember, so I thought it was important to add,” Naomi said. pic.twitter.com/xbrejOkYIx |
| We’ll also be hearing from: | We’ll also be hearing from: |
| Richard Luscombe in Parkland, Florida, where the shooting last month occurred. | Richard Luscombe in Parkland, Florida, where the shooting last month occurred. |
| Jamiles Lartey in Atlanta, where he’ll join student demonstrators at Martin Luther King’s former high school. | Jamiles Lartey in Atlanta, where he’ll join student demonstrators at Martin Luther King’s former high school. |
| Lauren Gambino in Washington DC, where students are protesting and lawmakers are debating school security. | Lauren Gambino in Washington DC, where students are protesting and lawmakers are debating school security. |
| Adam Gabbatt in New York City, home to strict gun control measures and several rallies in support of the walkout. | Adam Gabbatt in New York City, home to strict gun control measures and several rallies in support of the walkout. |
| Andrew Gumbel in Huntington Beach, California, a more politically conservative area in the liberal state. | Andrew Gumbel in Huntington Beach, California, a more politically conservative area in the liberal state. |
| How did this protest come together and who is behind it? | How did this protest come together and who is behind it? |
| The Guardian’s Tom McCarthy has the answers to those questions and more in this protest Q&A: | The Guardian’s Tom McCarthy has the answers to those questions and more in this protest Q&A: |
| After the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school in Florida last month, students refused to accept the usual rote statements by politicians, and reinvigorated a nationwide movement to reduce gun violence. | After the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school in Florida last month, students refused to accept the usual rote statements by politicians, and reinvigorated a nationwide movement to reduce gun violence. |
| Today, a month after the shooting, students across the country will step out of class for 17 minutes – one minute for each victim of the Parkland shooting. It represents a memorial for the lives lost to gun violence and a demand for more action from lawmakers. | Today, a month after the shooting, students across the country will step out of class for 17 minutes – one minute for each victim of the Parkland shooting. It represents a memorial for the lives lost to gun violence and a demand for more action from lawmakers. |
| Guardian reporters will be sending dispatches to our live blog from protests across the country, including Parkland, Florida, where the massacre took place; the school in Atlanta formerly attended by Martin Luther King; and a school across the river from the White House. | Guardian reporters will be sending dispatches to our live blog from protests across the country, including Parkland, Florida, where the massacre took place; the school in Atlanta formerly attended by Martin Luther King; and a school across the river from the White House. |
| Demonstrations will take place at 10am local time, starting on the east coast and ending in Hawaii, six hours later. | Demonstrations will take place at 10am local time, starting on the east coast and ending in Hawaii, six hours later. |
| Those participating have several demands. Among them, they want to: | Those participating have several demands. Among them, they want to: |
| • Ban assault weapons | • Ban assault weapons |
| • Require universal background checks before gun sales | • Require universal background checks before gun sales |
| • Reduce militarization of law enforcement | • Reduce militarization of law enforcement |
| And for any readers thinking of protesting, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) published a one-page guide to student’s protest rights. Universities have said they won’t penalize college applications belonging to students who protest. | And for any readers thinking of protesting, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) published a one-page guide to student’s protest rights. Universities have said they won’t penalize college applications belonging to students who protest. |
| Stay tuned here for reports from the protests and context on the battle to reduce gun violence in the US throughout the day. | Stay tuned here for reports from the protests and context on the battle to reduce gun violence in the US throughout the day. |