Upper Arlington Students Walk Out In Honor Of Parkland Victims

Students at two Columbus-area schools held demonstrations in solidarity with Florida high-schoolers who are pushing for new gun laws.

In a rainy courtyard at Upper Arlington High School, more than 300 students gathered in a mass walkout during their lunch period—17 minutes for the 17 victims of a shooting at a Parkland, Fla. high school. 

Juniors Clare Driscoll and Dylan Carlson-Sirvent organized the rally and seemed a little shocked at the waves of students pouring out for the event.  

In front of the crowd, Driscoll recited the names of all 17 victims.

"These are the students and teachers who died," she told students. "Remember their names. Remember their deaths. Remembers we will not stand for this to happen again."

Carlson-Sirvent told the crowd it's up to them to demand legislative changes.

“It is time for lawmakers to realize that we are no longer asking to be heard, but we are demanding it," he said. "And that in a couple of years if significant and effective change does not come, we will use the power of our vote.”

The district’s superintendent is organizing a town hall meeting next week after fielding calls from students, parents and teachers. 

Students at Grove City High School held a similar demonstration in their gymnasium.