STAY WOKE
BY KELLIE MONZON CRUZ
"THE WALKOUT"
February 28, 2018.
This is the day I had the opportunity to organize a school-wide walkout protesting gun violence and current gun laws with a girl I’ve known since middle school. Her name is Selena Reyes. Although several kids did break the rules and simply walked out to skip class and leave campus, so many more walked out for the right reasons. Seeing so many young voices stand up for what they truly believe in is something incredibly inspiring. This was the first time I have included myself in something like this, but why did we do it?
Parkland, Florida. This has caused an uproar of protests all around the nation to stop gun violence, “enough is enough,” as we like to say. Too much gun violence has gone on since the Columbine school shooting on April 20, 1999. Thousands of innocent lives have been completely taken away — in a place we’re supposed to see as a “safe learning environment.” There is nothing safe about any learning environment because it can happen ANYWHERE.
This is the day I had the opportunity to organize a school-wide walkout protesting gun violence and current gun laws with a girl I’ve known since middle school. Her name is Selena Reyes. Although several kids did break the rules and simply walked out to skip class and leave campus, so many more walked out for the right reasons. Seeing so many young voices stand up for what they truly believe in is something incredibly inspiring. This was the first time I have included myself in something like this, but why did we do it?
Parkland, Florida. This has caused an uproar of protests all around the nation to stop gun violence, “enough is enough,” as we like to say. Too much gun violence has gone on since the Columbine school shooting on April 20, 1999. Thousands of innocent lives have been completely taken away — in a place we’re supposed to see as a “safe learning environment.” There is nothing safe about any learning environment because it can happen ANYWHERE.
Schools take the time to up our security when things like this happen, but that is not the root of the problem. The root of the problem is guns. Why should an 18-year-old be able to purchase an AR-15? That is completely unnecessary and ridiculous. Too many lives have been lost when instead they should be worrying about their next math test or worrying about whether their class cap and gowns have come in yet.
These children had lived. We all have lives to look forward to, they did too. This is why we are protesting and using a right that was given to us, the first amendment. Adults are quick to tell us that we have no voice and what we say doesn’t really matter. I urge you to watch the news, many articles of the ones you see are of students like the ones attending Tucker High School, we are creating a ruckus and it won’t stop until we are given what we want. We are a generation to fear, a generation that is educated and knows right from wrong.
Don’t tell us we don’t have a voice. Don’t tell us we don't know anything about government. Don’t tell us we know nothing about guns. Don’t tell us we can’t do anything. Don’t tell us we can’t make a difference. Don’t do it.
As a student in high school who believes that her community is safe, we can still be the next targets. Having a fear of going to school is not something we should be worried about.
Initially, I thought no one was going to join us in this walkout. I thought people were just going to see it as an easy way to get suspended. After waiting a few more minutes we saw hundreds of kids feeding into the field, ready to walk out. My class and I saw all these creative signs and pre-made posters were given out to those who didn’t make posters earlier. We planned on meeting on the field and walking to Main Street together, but we were later told we could only walk around the field. What’s a walkout without the breaking of rules?
These children had lived. We all have lives to look forward to, they did too. This is why we are protesting and using a right that was given to us, the first amendment. Adults are quick to tell us that we have no voice and what we say doesn’t really matter. I urge you to watch the news, many articles of the ones you see are of students like the ones attending Tucker High School, we are creating a ruckus and it won’t stop until we are given what we want. We are a generation to fear, a generation that is educated and knows right from wrong.
Don’t tell us we don’t have a voice. Don’t tell us we don't know anything about government. Don’t tell us we know nothing about guns. Don’t tell us we can’t do anything. Don’t tell us we can’t make a difference. Don’t do it.
As a student in high school who believes that her community is safe, we can still be the next targets. Having a fear of going to school is not something we should be worried about.
Initially, I thought no one was going to join us in this walkout. I thought people were just going to see it as an easy way to get suspended. After waiting a few more minutes we saw hundreds of kids feeding into the field, ready to walk out. My class and I saw all these creative signs and pre-made posters were given out to those who didn’t make posters earlier. We planned on meeting on the field and walking to Main Street together, but we were later told we could only walk around the field. What’s a walkout without the breaking of rules?
We somehow managed to convince our campus officer that we were just going to walk around the school, but even if we didn’t we were going to go past him anyway. We continued to front of the school and waited patiently for the crosswalk to let us pass. When the light switched, it was like a wave had just hit. We made it. Our initial plan came to reality, we managed to do what we wanted without any repercussions.
It was inspiring to see all of us come together for this cause. We made posters and many teachers came out to support us students in fighting for what we believe in. As we walked down Main Street and back there were several people who came out of their shops to record us and told us to keep going.
Students have not stopped here. More walkouts have been organized and there was even a sit-in recently. Students sat in a hallway, causing no disturbance, and sat silently with posters against gun violence. These students received 10 days of in-school suspension, and others received out of school suspension as well. Tucker students have gotten the attention of local news. They’ve been on local news stations and have even been on the radio to speak about what they've been doing to benefit this nation-wide protest.
Like I said before, we are a generation to fear. We should not be scared of you, but you should be scared of us. We are educated and know how to make a difference. Have you taken a history class? Look at all the protests that were conducted to abolish slavery, those were started by students like ourselves. So don’t tell us we can’t make a difference, if they can do it so can we.
We can make a difference.
You CAN help this cause. If you can vote, then vote. Vote certain people out of office, that’s something we can do. You can also help by calling, emailing, or even mailing letters to our representatives. Sign petitions! There are so many ways to help, we can do this.
It was inspiring to see all of us come together for this cause. We made posters and many teachers came out to support us students in fighting for what we believe in. As we walked down Main Street and back there were several people who came out of their shops to record us and told us to keep going.
Students have not stopped here. More walkouts have been organized and there was even a sit-in recently. Students sat in a hallway, causing no disturbance, and sat silently with posters against gun violence. These students received 10 days of in-school suspension, and others received out of school suspension as well. Tucker students have gotten the attention of local news. They’ve been on local news stations and have even been on the radio to speak about what they've been doing to benefit this nation-wide protest.
Like I said before, we are a generation to fear. We should not be scared of you, but you should be scared of us. We are educated and know how to make a difference. Have you taken a history class? Look at all the protests that were conducted to abolish slavery, those were started by students like ourselves. So don’t tell us we can’t make a difference, if they can do it so can we.
We can make a difference.
You CAN help this cause. If you can vote, then vote. Vote certain people out of office, that’s something we can do. You can also help by calling, emailing, or even mailing letters to our representatives. Sign petitions! There are so many ways to help, we can do this.
PHOTOGRAPHER : IAN NUFER
~ MORE PHOTOS FROM THE PROTEST
~ MORE PHOTOS FROM THE PROTEST
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