Students can protest, but it may cost them.
A second nationwide walkout in response to the Parkland, Florida, shooting is to take place on Apr 20—the anniversary of the Columbine tragedy—and NYC participants could face consequences for missing class. According to Patch, the Department of Education spokeswoman Miranda Barbot said that schools will be treating the occasion the way they do a normal day, which means those who are not present for at least one class will be marked as absent.
“We support student participation in civic engagement and advocacy, and encourage schools to facilitate opportunities for respectful discussions on current events. We are aware of the planned full-day walkout and schools will follow standard attendance policies,” Barbot said in a statement provided to Time Out New York Kids.
When the Mar 14 walkout took place, then-chancellor Carmen Fariña released a statement about the event, part of which read, "If your child is planning to participate, please notify your school by following your school’s regular attendance protocol. For middle and high school students, walking out for 17 minutes and returning to school will be considered cutting class, not an absence. Students will not face consequences beyond a notation in their student attendance record and a conversation with an administrator. Please be aware that regular classroom schedules will continue as usual."
It appears plenty are willing to make the sacrifice, though. In an effort to see stricter gun laws in the U.S., roughly 6,000 students in the city from various schools across the city will meet at noon at Washington Square Park, dressed in orange—the national gun violence awareness and prevention color—to make their voices heard.
This NYC-based walkout will be under the guidance of the newly formed student-run organization, New York City Says Enough. It is attempting to become a 501c organization and already exceeded its $7,000 goal to raise funds for the Apr 20 event, which will include appearances from Columbine survivors, as well as survivors from Parkland, Florida and Newtown, Connecticut.
"Along with thousands of students nationwide, I feel that this is truly a fight for our lives. Too often I have turned on the television only to see another mass shooting, and think, 'That could have been me,'" the group's co-founder, Arielle Geismar tells us.
Between nationwide protests and movements like March for Our Lives, people are anxious to see a change and make school a safe space once again.
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