Gov moves to protect kids who protested

ALBANY — Gov. Cuomo on Thursday called on the state education commissioner to stop schools from disciplining students and faculty who took part in the 17-minute protest in honor of the Parkland, Fla., school shooting victims.

Cuomo said in an open letter to state Education Commissioner Mary Ellen Elia that such discipline goes against freedom of speech principles.

“The scourge of mass shootings in schools is very real, and these students were taking proactive steps to protect themselves and their classmates,” he wrote. “These actions, coupled with the peaceful manner in which the demonstrations were conducted, is something that should be lauded, not punished.”

Cuomo took part in the protests with students in Manhattan.

In a response letter, Elia told Cuomo “I stand with you in support of New York’s students who express themselves through free speech.”

But she did not specifically commit to reversing any discipline actions taken by local schools against students and faculty who walked out.

Elia said she has discussed with school district superintendents, board members, teachers and others “the importance of learning from this tragedy.”