I have been both inspired and occasionally brought to tears by what young people all over this country did today.
* A couple of them clearly have a future in politics if they are interested.
“In an ideal world, the 20 first graders and kindergartners who died at Sandy Hook would be in middle school… The 17 victims from Stoneman Douglas would probably be eating lunch right now,” student says at #NationalWalkoutDay rally https://t.co/9UbJD8FATr pic.twitter.com/77EQYqxmkw
— CBS News (@CBSNews) March 14, 2018
Student speaks in front of the U.S. Capitol on #NationalWalkoutDay: “Their right to own an assault rifle does not outweigh our right to live. The adults have failed us. This is in our hands now, and if any elected official gets in our way, we will vote them out.” pic.twitter.com/VEdAcLnuOI
— NBC News (@NBCNews) March 14, 2018
* The memories these invoke brought me to tears.
Students at Columbine High School in Colorado join their fellow students in the nationwide protests against gun violence. Amazing. ? #NationalWalkoutDaypic.twitter.com/jGNw8eE0NR
— Ricky Davila (@TheRickyDavila) March 14, 2018
17 desks in remembrance of students in Florida. One of the ways Kennedy students honoring their memory. #togetherwearegreat pic.twitter.com/GuwRZlhbSy
— Daniel Hahn (@Chief_Hahn) March 14, 2018
* Some students braved the weather.
Boston students show up on school snow day to protest gun violence https://t.co/4WESnp7Hge pic.twitter.com/D4DDLA58zG
— The Hill (@thehill) March 14, 2018
My 13 YO daughter & her friends were excited to participate in the #Walkout to support #MSDStrong. Due to the snowstorm, Boston Public Schools are closed today. She did what she could, & stood outside our home for 17 minutes.
I am VERY proud of my strong, beautiful daughter. pic.twitter.com/E7YyCLbzpv
— Chris Ocnean (@chrisocnean) March 14, 2018
* How about the children?
Elementary school walkout in Alexandria, Virginia. More than 65 kids, and they are totally silent. Look at those faces. pic.twitter.com/ThyzDtyGo5
— Lois Beckett (@loisbeckett) March 14, 2018
We are inspired by today’s children from the Washington Heights C.C.C. School making their voices heard.#NationalWalkoutDay #Enough #wahi pic.twitter.com/IVwxY8d2AY
— NYPD 33rd Precinct (@NYPD33Pct) March 14, 2018
Covering a walkout this morning at an elementary school in Virginia, and the 11-year-old organizers had a press packet ready for me. pic.twitter.com/eeElhGciid
— Lois Beckett (@loisbeckett) March 14, 2018
* Some schools didn’t allow a walkout. The students at Booker T. Washington High School in Atlanta came up with a powerful alternative.
Students at Booker T Washington High School in Atlanta talking a knee as part of the #NationalWalkoutDay protests. pic.twitter.com/bZpU8kQNjl
— Jamiles Lartey (@Jamiles) March 14, 2018
* Some walkouts were highly organized.
West Aurora students form the words ‘Never Again’ during a walkout. An estimated 2,000, out of 3,700 at the HS, are participating pic.twitter.com/QO6heGjrKD
— Sarah Freishtat (@srfreish) March 14, 2018
WATCH: California students spell out #Enough during protest against gun violence#NationalWalkoutDay pic.twitter.com/YQUGcqdhQs
— NBC News (@NBCNews) March 14, 2018
* Finally, while we’re on the subject, these kids are all right too. They are students at the Detroit School of Arts’ Vocal Jazz Ensemble singing David Byrne’s “Everybody’s Coming to My House.” Here is how Byrne reacted to their rendition of his song:
“When I saw what the DSA students did with my song, it completely changed the way I thought of it. In fact, it changed the meaning of the song—I realized it was about inclusion, welcoming, and not being alone. It’s a more generous interpretation of the song than what I do with my voice,” Byrne said of the video in a statement. “We ARE all in the same house—if we want to be. Just goes to show how a song can change (radically!) depending on who is singing it.”
