‘I am scared,’ student on Main Line says
LOWER MERION » “Enough gun violence,” “No more silence,” “Ho ho, the NRA has got to go” and “What do we want? Gun control. When do we want it? Now.”
Those chants rang out at Lower Merion High School as students poured out of their school and marched around its perimeter Wednesday before listening to speeches and chanting some more on a cold and windy late winter day.
The students held a moment of silence for the victims of gun violence. And one student read the names of the 17 victims — 14 students and three teachers — who lost their lives in a horrific massacre in Parkland, Fla., a month ago.
Several students short speeches.
“Students have a right not to be gunned down in gave their school,” said one, calling gun violence “a public health crisis.” Others said they were, “Sick and tired of thoughts and prayers,” and demanded action. Another said, “People who are mentally ill should get help, not guns,” and promised, “We are going to be the generation to end it.”
“I am scared,” said Maayan Barasade, a freshman. “I am a teenage student, and I am afraid. What happened at [Marjory] Stoneman Douglas High School one month ago was terrifying and most importantly not acceptable,” she said.
She decried inaction the part of politicians.
“When I heard of this, my heart felt sick. I realized that I personally knew people that went to MSD. Fortunately, none were physically injured or killed. But they have to go about the rest of their lives with these terrible memories. on The students at the Stoneman Douglas High School are inspiring and uplifting.”
The 500 or so students who walked out of Lower Merion High School were among many at area schools who participated in the nationwide event in remembrance of those who were killed. Students at Harriton High School, both Lower Merion middle schools and Radnor High School and Middle School, along with students at Main Line private schools also walked out of class or held other events. Students at The Haverford School, The Agnes Irwin School, Shipley School, Friends Central and Episcopal Academy all took part in walkouts.
Radnor Middle School sixth-grader Wim van Rossum, 11, shared his concerns about guns and took part in a walkout at his school.
“Because we should have the right to have a safe school,” he said, when asked about why he joined the walkout. “It could help by putting pressure on the federal government to give us safer schools.”
He said he wants rid of guns.”
Students made posters and gave 17 speeches, he said.
“The students are speaking. I think it was really bad that they let an AR-15 get in the hands of someone that was mentally ill that did that,” van Rossum said.
Lena Armstrong, who is a junior at Radnor High School and one of the walkout organizers, said, “I believe that no one is too young to voice their passions and create change. In such a divided nation, I wanted to be a part of the unification of our student body. I walked out to show the entire nation my solidarity with the students of Stoneman Douglas and desire for change. Until we make a public stand and voice our opinions, to “get they won’t be heard. These walkouts will hopefully spark change and call attention to national issues with gun violence.”
Another Radnor walkout organizer, sophomore Caroline Kaplan, said, “It was an honor to be able to truly pay respect to those that have lost their lives in school shootings and other senseless massacres, and I really hope that this movement can be the start of something bigger — something that can permanently effect change. I know that my generation is passionate. We will fight for what we believe, and this walkout was a show of this solidarity and feeling.”
After the walkout, Radnor High Principal Dan Bechtold sent an email to parents saying that he was proud of the students, both those who participated in the walkout and those who didn’t. Bechtold also thanked those who helped with the event, which was not open to the public or the media, and the police who kept the students safe.