GHS students walk out to remember fallen students

About 200 GHS students and staff gathered in the front lawn of the school las Wednesday  to remember those who lost their lives in the Florida shooting.

Student leaders stood on tables and displayed pictures of the lost ones as they described who that person was and what they accomplished and hoped to accomplish in their life.

“It’s important that students know that they are capable of change and that the world around us is important, that other students are important,” student organizer, senior Samantha Henschel said.

Students flooded out of  their classrooms at 10 a.m. sharp on Wednesday morning while wearing maroon.

“The purpose was to show that this shooting didn’t just affect the community of Parkland but communities across the nation such as Greendale,” student organizer,junior Yvett Sanchez.

This walk out was not political, however future walkouts will be politically based.

The upcoming walk out which will be held on April 20th, will be politically based. Students will once again leave their classrooms at 10 am and will head down to the courthouse to protest.

“This walkout was mostly to honor the victims and their families, was not political. The next walkout which will take place April 20, will be political and will really take a stand to support stronger gun laws,” Sanchez said. “I hope those who participate in this  walkout, participated in the second walkout. This issue isn’t democratic or republican, it’s a human issue and we need to come together to solve it.”

The walkout first started off as a group chat amongst GHS students. The news then traveled and with kids talked about it with each other at school.

“I would have never imagined a small group chat would have expanded to more people in the school. I’m very proud of the people who walked out today, the ones who spoke, and anyone else who is newly inspired to do so,” Henschel said.

The amount of students also surprised the other student organizers.

“I was surprised  because a lot of students said they weren’t going to come because they didn’t want to miss class. But there was at least like 200 kids out there,” student organizer, senior Aaron Xiong said.

Other student organizers weren’t surprised by the number of students that attended.

“I was not surprised. I felt that there was a great mass of people at the school who felt that paying respects was the right thing to do,” student organizer, junior Gavin Steele said.

This walkout really sent a strong message out to GHS students and staff as they all stood in silence for 17 minutes as the student organizers read and showed who lost their life on February 14.

Many schools across the nation walked out of their school at 10 to show their support as well.

“This walkout was important in order to showcase the support that Greendale students have for the family members if the victims from the shooting in Parkland,” Sanchez says. “The purpose was to show that this shooting didn’t just affect the community of Parkland but communities across the nation such as Greendale.”

Student organizers hope that everyone that attended this past walk out opened their eyes to the real problem.

“I would hope that this walkout inspired others to stand up and work for the change they wish to see in the world,” Henschel said. “It also gave a message that we are not afraid to stand up and voice our opinions and concerns despite having opposition from peers, parents, and politicians.”