Students make emotional return to Florida school

PARKLAND — With tears, fears and defiance, students made an emotional return yesterday to their Florida high school where a former classmate went on a shooting rampage two weeks ago, killing 17 people.

Students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland were greeted by heavy security and scores of well-wishers as they returned to classes.

In Washington, President Donald Trump surprised many by embracing a series of gun control measures that are tougher than usually supported by his party, and ordering lawmakers to work together on bipartisan legislation.

Dozens of police officers lined the sidewalks saying "Good morning" to each child and retired officers passed out flowers. Former students, neighbors and their children held banners reading "We Love You," "You've Got This" and "We Are With You."

"It's all a little overwhelming," said one 17-year-old student named William, who shared a classroom with two of the young victims, Nicholas Dworet and Meadow Pollack.

"It was just sad to go back there and not have my friends who were in the class with me anymore."

Likewise, for Kimberly Miller, the first day back meant confronting the absence of her geography teacher, 35-year-old Scott Beigel.

Beigel was one of three staff killed, along with 14 teenagers, when former student Nikolas Cruz entered the school on Valentine's Day and opened fire with a semi-automatic rifle.

"It's pretty upsetting," said the 14-year-old Miller. "But it was also refreshing to talk to everyone because people don't really understand how it feels, no matter how much they try to understand."

While there were few open displays of grief, many students looked somber, speaking in hushed tones with their eyes downcast.

Jonathan Abramchaev, 15, said it was "very emotional" to see his school again.

"Seeing all the flowers by the gate, that really hurt me," he told AFP. "Today we were just discussing and talking out our feelings."

Some said they felt reassured — if a little unsettled — by the heavy police presence.

"I'm not scared," said Stoneman Douglas junior Sean Cummings. "I feel like it's more protected than any other school at this point.

"But it's still weird to see everybody here and all these police officers," said the 16-year-old.

Others — like senior Carly Novell — said they were nervous to return.