STAND TOGETHER
North Penn students join national walkout; They read names of Florida shooting victims and encourage voter registration
“It’s so much bigger than us. We’re not just protecting each other, we’re advocating for all students, all over, because if the lawmakers haven’t done anything since then, who’s going to give them that extra push? Who will be the catalyst to create actual legislative change? It has to be us.” — Alexis Bamford
TOWAMENCIN » Hundreds of North Penn High School students sent a silent, but powerful message Wednesday: they stand with their peers across the country, walking out of school to protest gun violence.
“Our generation, and people that are seniors, we’ve lived through three really big school shootings. And that’s not normal,” said 10th grader Cassie Montgomery.
“I was in elementary school when the Sandy Hook massacre happened; now I’m in high school when the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School had a shooting, and we had the Columbine shooting (in
1999). It’s a really big deal, especially with our generation, and we’re the most affected by this,” she said.
At 10 a.m. Wednesday, one month after the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida, high school students across the country walked out of classes in silent protest of gun violence. At North Penn, students walked out to the school courtyard adjacent to the cafeteria, surrounding a small stage with loudspeakers, where six 10thgrade student organizers read the names of the 17 victims killed in the Feb. 14 shooting. ••• Alyssa Alhadeff, 14, a soccer player
••• “We decided the focus of this walkout is going to be us reading the names of these victims, and then providing a moment of silence afterwards,” 10th grader Rachel Rubins said afterward.
“We decided to give a description of each of the lives lost, to make it seem more personal, because we all know someone who’s a dancer, who is in the marching band, and to make it seem more real for people,” she said. •••
Scott Beigel, 35, a geography teacher trying to protect his students
••• Students filed out of their classrooms, through the hallways and cafeteria, out to the school’s main courtyard at 10 a.m., and the hum of happy chatter fell silent when the students began reading victim’s names.
•••
Martin Duque Anguiano, he was 14, a loving brother and community member
••• As the organizers alternated turns at the microphone, students stood silently, some holding back tears, as district staff looked on, and student members of the NPTV television program filmed and took photos. •••
Nicholas Dworet, 17, he was a senior committed to the University of Indianapolis for swimming
••• “We definitely wanted to make sure we had faculty approval, because the idea is for us to come together, in the interest of protecting ourselves, and each other, and just prevent a tragedy like this,” said 10th grader Alexis Bamford.
“Our First Amendment rights within the school are not unlimited. However, we still have them, so as long as we weren’t disrupting class, we were told we had approval on all of this,” she said.
•••
Aaron Feis, 37, assistant football coach, he died shielding students
••• High school Principal Todd Bauer said he and students had discussed changing the school’s bell schedule to accommodate the walkout, but the group ultimately decided to keep classes continuing as normal, while excusing those who walked out.
“Our role in all of this, from the start, from the day the kids came to me, was to provide a framework to keep kids safe,” Bauer said.
“I have said to kids, ‘I’m not walking out with you. I will be outside with you, making sure you’re safe,’” he said. ••• Jaime Guttenberg, 14, beloved daughter
••• Bamford said she thought the moment was “extremely powerful,” to be part of a nationwide movement with students across the country.
•••
Chris Hixon, 49, athletic director and beloved husband. He died protecting his students, always put others before himself
••• “It’s so much bigger than us. We’re not just protecting each other, we’re advocating for all students, all over, because if the lawmakers haven’t done anything since then, who’s going to give them that extra push? Who will be the catalyst to create actual legislative change? It has to be us,” she said.
•••
Luke Hoyer, 15, reported missing before found, loving son and best friend
••• In addition to the morning walkout, students also organized a discussion on gun violence and related topics to be held after school, and said any student interested in sharing their thoughts would be invited to do so. ••• Cara Loughran: she was 14, and a dancer
••• Members of the school’s Democratic and Republic clubs also staffed tables in the school cafeteria where their peers could sign up to register to vote, an effort the students said they could all agree on.
•••
Gina Montalto, 14, best friend, and member of the color guard and marching band
••• “We decided to make a co-effort, in doing voter registration, because it’s something we all value, and we all think is really important. So we decided to have this event, especially on this day, when people are very empowered to want to make a change,” Rubins said. •••
Joaquin Oliver, 17, proud Venezuelan, he loved sports and hip hop
••• “I would push for everyone that is a senior to vote in all your local elections, even midterm elections, because that’s a really big deal,” said Montgomery.
“Your local leaders in the community are something you can definitely control, and maybe you can consider running — you only have to be 18 to run for school board,” Montgomery said.
•••
Alaina Petty, 14, a vibrant young volunteer, she helped (victims) during Hurricane Irma ••• Former student Nikolas Cruz has been charged with 17 counts of murder for the Feb. 14 shooting in Parkland, Florida, and that state’s legislature has since taken up discussions on raising age restrictions to purchase guns, and whether to arm teachers or other school staff.
•••
Meadow Pollack, 18, recently accepted to Lynn University
••• “I think the biggest part is just staying together as a community, and protecting the next generation. I personally think...there’s talk of teachers having weapons in school. I think school is school,” Montgomery said.
“That’s what I think is the most important part, and this is a bipartisan issue, I think. Almost everyone can agree that no one likes losing lives like this,” she said.
•••
Helena Ramsay, she was 17, a beautiful and talented student ••• Bamford said in addition to registering to vote, students should take time to learn about legislation that could change gun safety rules, like proposed legislation from state Rep. Todd Stephens (R-151st) that would create an “Extreme Risk Protective Order” allowing a court to rule that a person is temporarily prohibited from possessing firearms
“Basically, it would grant gun violence restraint orders, with evidence, and with judicial review, and due process,” Bamford said.
“In extreme cases, a lot of people believe someone should not have a weapon, so that’s one thing you could write up your representatives, and support that,” she said.
•••
Alex Schachter, 14, he played baritone and trombone in marching band. There is now a foundation in his name, set up for music (students) ••• North Penn’s school board said last week they supported the students’ right to protest, and have announced a new meeting of the board’s Safe Schools committee, to be held at 6 p.m. on April 10. The full school board next meets at 7:30 p.m. on March 15, and both meetings will be held at the district Educational Services Center, 401 E. Hancock St. in Lansdale.
••• Carmen Schentrup, 16, a National Merit scholar
••• School board President Tina Stoll and superintendent Curt Dietrich looked on silently as the names were read, and congratulated and thanked the organizers afterward.
“It was a student-driven thing, so we’re not trying to take anybody’s focus. I think it was really nicely done, and we completely support them,” Stoll said.
•••
Peter Wang, 15, JROTC member. He died protecting his friends, and helping them get out.