‘We’re Afraid To Go To School’ Montgomery Students Say At Capitol

WASHINGTON, DC — Montgomery County Public Schools students were among thousands nationwide who joined the "ENOUGH National School Walkout" on Wednesday, March 14. The movement is designed to protest recent gun violence in schools and call for stricter laws.

Participating students from MCPS walked out of class and made their way to the nearest Metro station, despite school officials urging them to stay on campus. The packs of students traveled to DC, where they held a rally exactly one month after 17 people were killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

Student gathered at the White House at 10 a.m. for 17 minutes of silence. They turned their backs to the White House and joined hands in solidarity with the 17 victims of the Parkland shooting.

At 10:17 a.m., students marched together to the U.S. Capitol for a rally, where student leaders and guest speakers talked. The students chanted together, saying: "Hey hey ho ho, the NRA has got to go!"

>> Check out Silver Spring Patch on Facebook to see live footage from the rally.

A crowd of what appeared to be in the thousands gathered in front of the Capitol, holding up signs that read "Protect Kids, Not Guns," "We're Afraid To Go To School" and "Make America Safe Again." Many students carried signs with the names of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas shooting victims on them.

"People in the U.S. care more about carrying guns that kill people than the people that (guns) kill," Charlotte Corcoran, a senior at Bethesda Chevy Chase High School, told Patch outside of the Capitol.

Guest speakers included House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Sens. Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin, Rep. Jamie Raskin and D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton. Senator Bernie Sanders also made a quick appearance.

Pelosi told the crowd: "I'm proud to be with you."

Sanders received a huge, lively welcome from the students. The crowd yelled, "We love you Bernie" and other praises to him. He told the group that "all across the country, people are sick and tired of gun violence, and the time is now."

Emboldened by the growing protest movement, the students taking part in the ENOUGH National School Walkout demanded their voices be heard.

"I hope they (lawmakers) take notice of us, and understand that we are going to be able to make a change really soon," Elaine Adams, a senior at Albert Einstein High School, told Patch.

Many students said while they are not old enough to vote yet, they will be able to soon and fully intend to exercise their right.

School system administrators asked that students remain on campus for the event. Any student who left their school building without permission or walked out of class outside of the designated time were marked with an unexcused absence, officials said. But students whose parents sent a note to school that their child has a personal appointment will be excused.

"Civic engagement is the foundation of our democracy and MCPS respects and supports our students' right to advocate for issues that are important to them," Montgomery County Public Schools Superintendent Jack R. Smith said in a statement.

See Related:

• MCPS Students Who Walk Out Face Discipline, Rally Set At Capitol
• Student Walkouts Pose Safety Risks: Montgomery Schools Leader
• Montgomery County Students To Meet With Florida Shooting Victims
• Montgomery County Students Walk Out, March For Gun Control In DC

Students participated from: Montgomery Blair High School, Richard Montgomery High School, Springbrook High School, Winston Churchhill High School, Blake High School, Walter Johnson High School, Northwood High School, Quince Orchard High School, Clarksburg High School, Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School, Rockville High School, Gaithersburg High School and Albert Einstein High School.

"It's pretty inspiring that so many people from all these different schools decided to skip their classes and come down here to stand up for what they believe in," Corcoran told Patch.