Parkland Students Appeal For Unity After Latest School Shooting

PARKLAND, FL — Word of Friday's school shooting in Ocala, Florida, reached Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School as students were participating in a National Day of Action Against Gun Violence in Schools event two months after an emotionally disturbed gunman carried out a murderous rampage in their school. Stoneman Douglas student David Hogg repeated calls for all Americans to come together to solve the problem. Friday was particularly significant because it marked the 19th anniversary of the 1999 mass shooting at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado.

"We have to stop this," Hogg declared in a video posted on social media as he sat with other Stoneman Douglas students outside the school in Parkland, Florida. "We're not going to be able to stop this unless we continue to make our voices heard ... when our elected officials won't."

In the Ocala incident, which happened on Friday morning, one student was shot in the ankle and the suspect taken into custody, according to the Marion County Sheriff's Office. Ocala is slightly more than 270 miles north of Parkland.

See also School Shooting Reported At Ocala High School

"We have to get out there and make our voices heard, not as Democrats or Republicans but as Americans," Hogg added. "We have to get out there, walk out, make our voice heard and do it."

The Stoneman Douglas students were planning to perform acts of community service on Friday.

"We're unified and we're protesting against gun violence," said another Stoneman Douglas student with Hogg. "This isn't about politics. Gun violence is a disease and it doesn't discriminate against parties."

Stoneman Douglas student Emma Gonzalez posted a photo of herself wearing an orange prison jumpsuit that she wore on Halloween several years ago.

"This prisoner jumpsuit was my Halloween costume two years ago," she posted. "But I wore it today because our schools are looking more like prisons and bomb shelters and less like the learning institutes our parents had the privilege of enjoying."

Stoneman Douglas Principal Ty Thompson reportedly told students during morning announcements that they could be punished if they left school on Friday. He said on social media that the day was meant to honor the Columbine victims.

"Adhering to the goals from Columbine: honoring them with day of service: garden work: and sending thoughts to the Columbine community with handwritten messages," Thompson posted. "Thanks for your heartfelt banner as well!"

Nadine Drew of Broward County schools, which includes Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, said students would face "appropriate" discipline if they are deemed to be in violation of the district's Student Code of Conduct.

"It is not, nor has it ever been a practice for the district to permit our schools to be used as politicized venues," she told Patch. "In the event that students walk out or gather, school principals have been told to have a designated space for students to remain on campus to ensure safety and supervision."

Stoneman Douglas student David Hogg was one of the featured speakers at the March For Our Lives event in Washington, D.C. Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)