WORDS PACK POWER
APRIL 20
IS A GRIM anniversary in the United States amid the too-long list of mass killings. Students from schools across the United States and Canada chose this day as National School Walkout Day.
On April 20, 1999, 12 students and one teacher were gunned down at Columbine High School in Colorado. The worst mass school shooting at the time, it has since been eclipsed by mass shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut in 2012 and last month’s shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., which left 17 dead.
The Florida shooting was a turning point in the war on guns and assault weapons led by student survivors from the school itself.
Since the Parkland shooting, students across North America have demanded changes to gun laws.
Hamilton schools, including Westmount, Westdale and St. Thomas More, took part in the walkout.
At Westdale, roughly 200 students left class at 10 a.m. to pause and remember the Columbine victims.
Later, they lined Main Street West in front of the school, carrying signs and demanding changes to U.S. gun laws.
“We came out here to show our support and make sure that they know that they’re not alone,” said student Tyra Lewis.