On March 14, schools across the United States will partake in walkouts to peacefully protest gun violence and inaction to enforce stricter gun laws. The walkouts will take place at 10 a.m. and will last for 17 minutes to honor the lives of 17 individuals lost in the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, which occurred on February 14.

The school walkout has been promoted by the Women’s March Youth EMPOWER and people are encouraged to show support using the hashtag ENOUGH. According to the website actionnetwork.org, the aim of the walkout is “to protest Congress’ inaction to do more than tweet thoughts and prayers in response to the gun violence plaguing our schools and neighborhoods.”

In addition to schoolwide walkouts, there will also  be marches held in cities across the United States on March 24 with similar goals. The march, entitled March For Our Lives, states on its website that “We cannot allow one more child to be shot at school. We cannot allow one more teacher to make a choice to jump in front of a firing assault rifle to save the lives of students. We cannot allow one more family to wait for a call or text that never comes. Our schools are unsafe. Our children and teachers are dying. We must make it our top priority to save these lives.”

About the Boston March For Our Lives

March For Our Lives will take place across numerous cities in the United States, including Boston, Massachusetts. According to boston.com, the march is said to begin at 12p.m. on March 24 and continue until 5p.m.. Julian Diego Lopez-Levya, the leader of the Boston protest, said that the goal of the Boston march is to “raise the voices of all those directly impacted by gun violence.” Lopez Levya also told boston.com that “Subtle policies — from an obligation to community-oriented policing to firearm education for gun owners — have proven to stymie the senseless loss of life to gun violence.”

More information:

ENOUGH National School Walkout website: https://www.actionnetwork.org/event_campaigns/enough-national-school-walkout

March For Our Lives website:

https://www.marchforourlives.com

Boston’s March For Our Lives:

https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2018/02/22/boston-march-for-our-lives