Students Walkout at Several Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Wednesday
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Students at several Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools joined others across the country for a walkout Wednesday. They want to call attention to school safety concerns in the wake of the Florida school shooting.
Video shows students from Hough High School walking out in protest.
Original Story:
CHARLOTTE, NC – Students at several Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools plan to join others across the country for a walkout Wednesday.
They want to call attention to school safety concerns in the wake of the Florida school shooting.
“This is forcing us to talk about it again,” explains 16-year-old Luke Drago.
The Ardrey Kell sophomore is helping organize Wednesday’s walkout at his South Charlotte high school.
“We can’t really afford to forget about it right now. We can’t afford to just brush the issue off,” Drago says.
Students plan to remember the victims from Stoneman Douglas High School and call for tougher gun control measures.
“As the people who are directly impacted by school shootings, as students we think that it’s incredibly important that we’re able to let everyone know how we’re feeling,” Drago says.
Students at several Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools have coordinated the protests with administrators, who say they won’t be punished for leaving class.
They’ll be able to go to designated areas on school property.
At most schools the walkout begins at 10:00 a.m. and will last 17 minutes.
One minute for each student killed at Stoneman-Douglas.
“I’ve been very impressed with the thoughtfulness and the maturity that the students have shown,” says at-large School Board Member Elyse Dashew.
She says she’s proud of the students for speaking out.
“They’re realizing the power of Democracy, so as long as they do this in a way that’s respectful, and students are safe, I’m proud of the kids,” Dashew says.
Drago says he hopes student action leads to change.
“I’m not old enough to vote. But I am old enough to do something, so I can’t just sit by and do nothing,” he says.
