Enough: EHS students walkout to demand action on gun violence
Reibe: ‘We let them lead’
El Dorado High School students joined Florida students and young people nationwide by walking out of classes to demand action regarding gun violence.
To honor victims who died in a school shooting in Parkland, Florida, EHS students participated in a 17-minute walkout.
While students in Bentonville were issued detention for an unexcused absence for their activism, EHS principal Alva Reibe after being approached by several students dismissed students at 10 a.m. to participate in a walkout without consequence.
“They wanted to express that gun violence must stop,” Reibe said. “We let them lead. It’s supposed to be a student-led event … We think it’s important that students can express their ideas and I think it was a good opportunity for them to learn how to do something like this, to be respectful and be peaceful and all.”
In a Facebook post, EHS student Orlando Goodwin said, “We did not take it upon ourselves to just get up and walk out of school. We were given permission by Mrs. Reibe and other staff. She got on the intercom and said, ‘At 10, if you want to go outside and support the students who got killed you are allowed to.”
At the “strictly voluntary” event, students can be seen raising their fists in solidarity during a Facebook Live video posted by Goodwin. None of the students spoke at the demonstration, which was supervised by assistant principals, counselors and resource officers, Reibe said.
According to an online map by Women’s March Empower, walkouts were also planned in Hot Springs, Mountain Home, Fayetteville, Springdale, Conway, Sherwood, Cabot and Paragould.
Hundreds of Little Rock Central High students also took part in National Walkout Day, toting signs that read “books not bullets” and “enough is enough.” LRSD Superintendent Michael Poore wrote that the demonstrations are “an important opportunity to educate our students about the democratic process in action and the right to peacefully demonstrate differing views.”
Florida Gov. Rick Scott recently signed a bill that raises the age for long gun purchases, extends the waiting period and creates a program that allows school employees, but survivors of the Parkland shooting say they’re not enough.
Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School student Susana Matta said, “We are here to protest because we know that more can be done, not just statewide but nationwide … This problem affects absolutely everyone and we will not stop until change happens. It’s been a whole month and we’re still out here protesting.”
The South Florida students, led by Casey Sherman, are planning the March For Our Lives
in Washington, according to the AP.
Survivors and their families will march “demand that their lives and safety become a priority.” Sibling marches are planned in Jonesboro, Fayetteville, Fort Smith and Little Rock. The nearest March For Our Lives is planned in Ruston, according to the demonstration’s website.
Brittany Williams may be reached at 870-862-6611 or bwilliams@eldoradonews.com. Follow her on Twitter and like her on Facebook @ BWilliamsEDNT for updates on Union County school news. Reporting from Arkansas Online and the Associated Press contributed to this story.