Arizona Students Plan Walkout In Solidarity With Protests Against Gun Violence In Schools

By Casey Kuhn
Published: Tuesday, March 13, 2018 - 4:23pm
Updated: Tuesday, March 13, 2018 - 6:16pm

Students are planning to walk out of class across the country Wednesday to bring attention to what they say is Congress’ inaction on gun violence.

Many schools are on spring break this week but students are still calling out legislators over gun violence in schools.

Students like Dobson High School junior Jacob Martinez. “There’s such a polarization there that they haven’t gotten anything done,” he said.

The 16-year-old is helping bring students to the Arizona Capitol on his vacation to demand meetings with state lawmakers.

Martinez said he and others are asking for specific results like universal background checks and a ban on bump stocks.

Students across the Valley plan to march outside for 17 minutes, which is one minute for each victim from the Florida school shooting.

“We’re not trying to separate them from their education but we want them to as briefly as they can walk out, call their elected officials and demand action," Martinez said.

The walkout is happening as high schoolers across the nation press for gun reform.

Schools are preparing for students walking out of class Wednesday in solidarity with the victims of the Florida Parkland school shooting.

The goal is to raise awareness for gun reform and ask politicians to pay attention to the voices of students who may not feel safe at school and to do something about it.

Administrators at Deer Valley Unified School district said they are aware of planned walkouts.

Spokeswoman Monica Allread said officials have encouraged students to remain safe on campus and return to class after the walkout.

“We’re working really hard to find a compromise that supports learning and supports safety and supports students’ free expression rights,” she said.

Allread said the district is working with Glendale Police to bring more officers around to increase safety.