200 Northport Students Rise Up In National School Walkout

Close to 200 students walked outside of Northport High School, joining thousands of students across the country who participated in the National School Walkout, on Wednesday morning.

Zoe Perles, a senior at Northport High School who organized the student-led walkout with fellow senior Ryan Dowling, told Patch she was amazed at how many of her fellow students took part in the walkout.

“I’m so inspired by how many of my peers decided to show up today and have their voices be heard,” she said.

While the event’s social media page has gathered more than 600 followers, the student organizers weren’t sure exactly how many of their peers would participate.

• Unexpected Number Of Northport Students Support National Walkout

During the walkout, students sat down in silence for 17 minutes to honor the 17 people killed in the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School last month.

Northport High School students are among thousands of students across the country who walked out of school to demand change in regards to school safety and gun laws.

Perles said she’s proud that the walkout has sparked a local and national conversation among students who have never been politically involved before.

“I hope everyone knows how special it was what we did today,” she said. “We made history today. Thousands of students rose up.”

The Northport High School administration was not involved in the walkout, but supported the students’ choice to participate. The same was not said for other schools across the country. Students at Council Rock North High School in Pennsylvania report school employees were blocking the doorways with chairs and desks during the National School Walkout on Wednesday morning.

Photo credit: Aidan Bryant