Friday morning students at W.B. Ray High School, as well as high schools across the Corpus Christi Independent School District, Texas, and nationwide plan to walk out of class in the name of school safety.
“This is important to me because I am a student,” said Ray High School Junior Daya Butler. “We see that there is various violence going on within schools, and it’s worrisome honestly.”
Butler is organizing the walkout at Ray High School. She says from 10:00-10:17 a.m., students across the country will leave class, honoring the 17 victims of February’s massacre in Parkland, Fla.
“Nationwide students are coming together to show their support for the lives that were lost in Florida, and the last 19 years,” said Butler.
Friday is also the 19th anniversary of the Columbine High School shooting. Since then, 122 people have been killed in school shootings. Butler says she and her classmates want to send a message to lawmakers, enough is enough.
“We need to stand up and we need to tell the people running for office and the people currently in office what we want from them,” said Butler. We’re at an age where we can make a difference and we will soon be voting.”
CCISD supports these students. In a statement, CCISD Director of Communications Leanne Winkler Libby told KRIS 6 News “CCISD shares students’ concerns about school safety, and the district will always respect free speech. Friday classes will follow their usual schedule. High school campuses will allow students (who choose to do so of their own accord) to gather in designated areas for a short time. As always, there will be adult supervision on all areas of campus. As on any school day, students who leave campus will be marked absent.”
Butler appreciates the support, and says students aren’t taking the walkout lightly.
“It’s very important that the teachers see we’re not just leaving school to leave school, we’re doing this to take a stand,” she says.
