BUCKLAND — Carrying signs that read “Books not Bullets,” “Enough is Enough,” and “We call B.S.,” between 200 to 300 Mohawk Trail Regional School students left school for a silent, 17-minute march around the school grounds to protest the mass shooting at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., last month.
“We deserve to feel safe in our schools and we need to address the gun violence that plagues this nation,” proclaimed Violet Rawlings, Student Council president and organizer of the walkout. “A month has passed since 17 innocent people were killed, and we have seen no change from our leaders in Congress. We have had enough, and will make our voices heard.”
“School should be a safe place,” she continued, “and we haven’t seen any changes in Congress. Let’s walk.”
Snow fell softly as the students walked a long loop around the school grounds during their 17 minutes.
Besides the students, about two dozen community members came out to the school to watch and applaud the protestors, in a show of support.
Co-Principal Lynn Dole said participation in the walkout was optional, but a majority of the high- and middle-school students was clearly present. Dole said the school administration had met with student leaders to discuss their participation in the National School Walkout, but stressed this was entirely a student-led initiative.
Rawlings said she wanted Mohawk to be part of the national walkout after hearing from the student survivors of the Parkland shooting. “For me, I was so inspired and really moved by the kids speaking out — all the survivors,” she said. “It really hit me, and I wanted to be a part of it.”
“I was so happy about the community coming out,” she added. “It was really awesome to see them.”
Besides organizing the walkout, Rawlings and the Student Council have organized a voter registration session for students during their lunch hours on Thursday and Friday this week (March 15 and 16) in the cafeteria.
“Not all of us are old enough to register to vote,” she told the marchers, “but many of us are old enough to pre-register. That is why … during high school lunches, you will see students given the opportunity to register to vote. We are committed to bringing power to the polls as soon as we turn 18.”
Besides the middle- and high schools, Mohawk’s three elementary schools also had special events to discuss school safety and to honor the lives of those killed in Parkland.
Buckland Shelburne Elementary School had a 17-minute assembly, with parents and community members, to talk about safety and community. Sanderson Academy had an indoor assembly and a moment of silence. And at Colrain Central School, the morning meeting was to include a talk about “how we are a community and the need to help and take care of each other.” Also, a moment of silence was held at Colrain Central.