In solidarity with their peers nationwide Wednesday, Vashon middle and high school students organized demonstrations and added their voices to the conversation about gun violence in the wake of attacks on school campuses. The walkouts marked the one month anniversary of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.
“To me, with young people, with what they do, they think outside the box,” said Tania Kinnear, a Vashon resident who heard about the planned march out of classrooms and went to show her support at Vashon High School.
Originally from the United Kingdom, Kinnear moved to the United States in 1981 and says she is shocked by the prevalence of mass killings in this country, a phenomena which doesn’t seem to exist anywhere else.
“I don’t think anybody’s doing enough. Not even close. They’re tweaking [the laws]. They take two steps forward and one step back, or three steps back.”
But she is hopeful that the next generation will lead necessary change.
“We’re bogged down with baggage, political baggage, and we over think. Young people, they react; they see they need to do something, and they’re young so they do it. It’s simple to them,” she said.
The walkouts occured at 10 a.m., following instruction from the Women’s March Youth Empower group, which organized and promoted the protest online via social media. A Google map on the Women’s March website was tracking more than 3,000 registered walkouts at schools for March 14, with dozens appearing across Washington and Puget Sound.
At McMurray Middle School, a large group of students participated in the walk out and gathered in front of the school, talking among themselves and sometimes joining in the chant, “Enough is enough.”
Some were wearing bright orange, and a smaller number had signs, including Aidan Green, who held up a handmade “#Enough” sign.
“Part of my family is from Florida. It was scary for me,” he said, referring to the Marjory Stoneham Douglas High School shooting last month. “I want to put an end to this.”
A group of girls, holding letters that spelled out “#never again,” lined up in formation and led the chanting for a time.
Chautauqua reading specialist Jenni Wilke attended as the mother of Phoebe Wilke, one of the girls holding part of the “never again” sign.
“I feel like I want to support the youth as they try to tackle the problem that adults have failed to solve,” she said.
She carried a sign quoting the German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who dissented in Nazi Germany: “Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act,” her sign read.
A small group of kids and parents also joined the crowd from Chautauqua Elementary School.
Fourth-grade Will was among them, holding a drawing of a gun with an “X” through it. His mom KellieAnn Henley works in the Chautauqua office.
“I told her I wanted to do the walk because it wasn’t fair others were being shot,” he said. “They came to learn.”
His classmate Lena was there, too, holding an orange hand-lettered sign with her message.
“There should be safety for all kids and no guns in schools,” she said.
Betsey Archambault attended with her fourth-grade daughter. Many know Archambault as the director of The DOVE Project, but she said she was there simply as a mother — and borrowed a sentiment from Barack Obama as she shared her thoughts.
“I think it is our responsibility that when our children use their voices that we have got their backs, “ she said.
Sixth-grade teacher Frank Daniels was among the faculty and staff outside with the students.
“I am just happy that the kids got the opportunity to express themselves,” he said, as the walkout wound down.
The group ended their 17 minutes outside with a moment of silence.
Afterward, Principal Greg Allison said that the students organized the event themselves.
“A number of them took leadership. It was not guided by us,” he said.
He added that prior to Wednesday, several classes discussed activism and civil disobedience, including their historical context and current relevance.
“The kids took it from there,” he said.
Nearby, approximately 50 Vashon High School students exited the building in near silence and gathered beneath the flag pole outside the main entry. Using a microphone, one student read the names of each victim killed during the Parkland rampage that left 17 young people dead last month.
“If it were not for the fact that an 18 year old boy were allowed to buy an automatic weapon, this would not have happened,” she said.
There were nods of approval in the crowd, which included Principal Danny Rock, and a small number of adults who sympathized with the message. One carried an orange sign that read “#ENOUGH” written in dark marker.
Students at Vashon Highschool gather in support of Wednesday’s student demonstrations against gun violence. (Paul Rowley/Staff Photo)
“They say the only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun. They’re wrong,” said the speaker. “We are the coming generation, and we have had enough.”
For the next 17 minutes, a solemn moment of silence was dutifully observed by the crowd until the students returned back inside the building.
“I think it’s a good message. I’m glad I came,” said Alex Lee, a student who helped set up the audio equipment. “Contributing in any way that I can, I feel really good about that.”
Another national walkout, planned by the student-founded National School Walkout movement, is scheduled for April 20, the 19th anniversary of the Columbine High School shooting. Additionally, on Vashon, there will be a March for Our Lives event on March 24. Participants gather at the high school at 11 a.m. and walk to the four-way intersection in town to raise awareness and provide information about gun safety.
– Susan Riemer and Paul Rowley
