Flucos Walk Out

On March 14, many FCHS students participated in a nationwide walk-out honoring the victims of the Valentine’s Day shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. The shooting claimed 17 lives of both students and faculty. Exactly a month after that fateful day, schools throughout the United States fought to bring attention to this deadly issue. A national walkout was organized where students would walk out of their schools for 17 minutes to honor the lives that were lost and demand stricter regulations.

Many students and staff chose to gather outdoors and in auditoriums, cafeterias and gymnasiums. To maximize student safety, the FCHS administration encouraged participating students to gather in the gym. Hundreds of FCHS students left class at 10 am to do so. “Students did an excellent job of standing and being silent. [I’m] very proud of our students,” said FCHS Principal James Barlow. As each row of bleachers was filled to its full capacity, students were able to peacefully take part in the “never again” movement.

Nationwide, many feel this mass walk-out was just the tip of the iceberg of students hoping to make their voices are heard and serve as a wakeup call to Congress regarding gun violence in schools.

For example, on March 13, the lawn of the U.S. Capitol was covered with over 10,000 sq.ft. of shoes. This Monument for our Kids was designed to represent those whose lives have been lost to gun violence since the Sandy Hook shooting in 2012. In addition, on Saturday, March 24, another attempt will be made to draw attention to this issue when a March For Our Lives event is planned in Washington, D.C.

One thing is for sure: These protests, movements and demonstrations show no sign of slowing down in the near future as many students are determined to be the generation that ends gun violence.