The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Students walk out against gun violence
Lorain County students joined thousands of others across the country by walking out of their classes as a protest against gun violence.
The actions marked a month since a former student returned to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., opening fire on students and teachers.
Nikolas Cruz, 19, was charged with 17 counts of murder and 17 counts of attempted murder in the incident.
On March 14, students left their classrooms to make their statements.
Elyria High School
Hayley Simons, a junior at Elyria High, fought back tears during the school walk out as she named and shared information about the students killed Stoneman Douglas High.
Throughout the protest, Hayley said it was heartwarming to see so many students stand and join one another outside.
She said it was more students than what they expected.
“If we can do more (events) like this, it’ll make a greater change,” Hayley said. “Our school can do this change. It can start one place and travel onward.”
She named all victims of the Stoneman Douglas High and said words can’t explain how it made her feel.
Hayley said the walk out overwhelmed her with emotions and many of them were good.
Participating with other schools around the world, she said it shows that students can come together and be a voice.
“Even though I’m 17, I can still make a change,” Hayley said.
Students at Elyria High who are younger than Hayley participated and she said they can all make a change for the future.
Elyria police Chief Duane Whitely said his department completely supports students participating in national walk out day.
“They’re doing it the right way,” Whitely said. “This country allows us, for its citizens to protest.
“This is being done in a very nonviolent, open atmosphere which is how it’s designed to be. So, we support them 100 percent; we’re here to stand with them and we’re here to protect them.”
Superintendent Dr. Thomas Jama said he is so proud of his students.
Jama said he also believes the students are protesting and honoring victims of the recent shootings the right way.
He said the students did extremely well by getting everybody involved, adding they did their protest properly and peacefully.
“They are sending a message out that their words and their thoughts matter,” Jama said. “The community should be proud of these kids.”
Lorain High School
At Lorain High, some scholars exited the building about 12:55 p.m. to begin a march around the school.
They returned inside to a program held in the gymnasium.
They were greeted by 17 chairs set in a circle, one for every victim at Stoneman Douglas High.
The chairs each had pictures, sports equipment, musical instruments and items showing each victim’s interests in life.
The scholars heard from Cassandra Marr, mother of Keshawndrae Carter, 19, who was gunned down July 2, 2017, on Beech Avenue in Lorain.
Marr encouraged the students to ponder the consequences of their actions if they are considering violence to deal with a situation.
Their classmates also shared their thoughts.
They heard from senior Jovaniel “Jojo” Rolon; junior Katelynn Peters; and sophomores Ryan Williams and Christian Nieves.
The Lorain High School Junior ROTC students performed their unarmed marching exhibition, and the school’s Wind Ensemble played “Amazing Grace.”
In her poem “Pursuit of Happiness,” Katelynn tallied 138 people dead in the mass shootings at Columbine High School, Virginia Tech, Sandy Hook Elementary, Pulse night club and Stoneman Douglas High.
“On their first week back to school, someone drops their book and everyone flinches,” she said. “You think they saw a book hit the floor?
“You’re wrong, they saw someone’s best friend, they saw their teacher hit the floor.”
Ryan and Christian issued a call for their classmates to make their stop the hate and learn from Australia, the United Kingdom, Japan and Germany, where stricter gun control laws have led to fewer violent gun crimes.
“Gun control in America is a curse, but only to some,” Christian said. “We aren’t here to take your guns, but to get us into safety throughout our country.”
Lorain students should lead with hope, not fear walking their streets at night or expect the next school fight, Ryan said.
“What we should expect is our community is to grow a sense of peace among each other and to finally call ourselves the Titans we are,” he said.
Lorain City School CEO David Hardy Jr. asked the students to do three things:
• Find someone they disagreed with and have a conversation.
• Go to an adult they care about and ask tough questions about how to make Lorain a better place.
• Find solutions to make sure they feel safe every day.
Avon High School
Students at Avon High participated in a Walk-in as part of Eagles United Week in solidarity with schools across the country in remembering the victims at Stoneman Douglas High.
Avon students held a 20-minute assembly which included a moment of silence to remember the lives lost and an A Capella performance of the national anthem and remarks from 17-year-old Avon High senior Yasmeen Barkley, who encouraged students to do their part to make a difference by signing the Eagle Pledge.
“We don’t have to be the smartest people in the world to solve the world’s problems, we just have to care,” Yasmeen said.
“I am asking every single Eagle to work hard, sign our pledge, be committed to your world and be the difference,” she said later.
The Walk-in coincided with three days of events from March 12-14 for Eagles United Week focusing on civic mindfulness, mental health awareness and a pledge to make a difference in the school.