Armed with only their words and voices, thousands of students passionately poured out of their classrooms and rallied against school violence across the country on Wednesday, with many of them asking, βAm I next?β
Signs held into the air, from Washington, D.C., to Washington state, called for tighter gun control and background checks, while some of the youngest participants waved signs bearing hand-drawn hearts and peace signs in support.
The emotional day marked one month since a lone gunman killed 17 people at a high school in Parkland, Florida on Feb. 14. That attack and two others, which each happened within the last five months, are among the 10 deadliest mass shootings in modern U.S. history.
βWeβre done taking bullets for Congress,β one sign read.
βMy dress code is stricter than the gun laws,β read another.
Check out some of the most powerful signs that students, teachers and parents alike carried during the marches:
Student sign says: As a black boy, I hope one I day I have as many rights as a gun. #nationalschoolwalkout pic.twitter.com/PuIXpy5yo1
— Brett Murphy (@ladybrettgm) March 14, 2018
βMy Dress Code is Stricter Than The Gun Lawsβ pic.twitter.com/KoSaUUILmk
— Anne Helen Petersen (@annehelen) March 14, 2018
.@Uncommon_Newark students released 17 balloons, one for each Parkland victim, during #NationalWalkoutDay. #Enough pic.twitter.com/33m2QPSz4P
— Uncommon Schools (@UncommonSchools) March 14, 2018
Students at Roosevelt high school in Seattle during their walk out. pic.twitter.com/cBqZtk83OP
— Manuel Valdes (@ByManuelValdes) March 14, 2018
This kid. pic.twitter.com/u2LkcP6Pkf
— Anne Helen Petersen (@annehelen) March 14, 2018
NO MORE SILENCE, END GUN VIOLENCE #EnoughIsEnough #NationalSchoolWalkout pic.twitter.com/TY8g1rLKMm
— Ashley (@WeareAshley) March 14, 2018
Even young kids K-5 from University Cooperative supporting Seattle students march for #walkout #Q13FOX pic.twitter.com/io3HDSS3Uz
— John Hopperstad (@JohnHopperstad) March 14, 2018
Woman speaking: βIβm a baby-boomer. And to all the students here: we have failed you.β pic.twitter.com/Wb2fI8V45A
— Anne Helen Petersen (@annehelen) March 14, 2018
These students from Bethesda Chevy Chase High School in MD did *not* get permission to come out here, did it anyway. #NationalSchoolWalkout pic.twitter.com/FFeK7q2HBy
— Nathalie Baptiste (@nhbaptiste) March 14, 2018
Teacher sends a message at #NationalSchoolWalkout at the White House pic.twitter.com/Z3smqzDT7U
— Zoe Daniel (@zdaniel) March 14, 2018
A creative sign from Vasiliki Frantzis from Winston Churchill High in Maryland. Guns βshould be regulated because they are dangerous,β she says. pic.twitter.com/2tRHR462x7
— Marina Fang (@marinafang) March 14, 2018
Katey Hegge, a junior at La Follette High School, holding her sign in the state Capitol. #NationalWalkoutDay pic.twitter.com/wBE7FILLbd
— Jessie Opoien (@jessieopie) March 14, 2018
When your #lovepeaceandsafetyatschool sign is banned, you take to the streets. #NationalWalkoutDay #futurevoter #NationalWalkoutDay san diego #enough pic.twitter.com/arbuOAFv5j
— kelly farrell (@kellyjadef) March 14, 2018
A sampling of other signs. pic.twitter.com/43tJsZP4an
— Marina Fang (@marinafang) March 14, 2018
its raining, but here we are @schoolwalkoutUS #NationalSchoolWalkout pic.twitter.com/Do7VXD8Y2j
— π (@AgitoCadet) March 14, 2018
Adults are supporting the #NationalWalkOut at Oakland Technical High School. #Oakland, CA students are joining the #NationalSchoolWalkout. Photo by @AyyeitsNina. #Enough #NeverAgain pic.twitter.com/ayMNUicJlc
— youthradio (@youthradio) March 14, 2018
More signs from East High, DSA student walkout #NationalSchoolWalkout pic.twitter.com/uQj88Y4jo4
— Melanie Asmar (@MelanieAsmar) March 14, 2018
Kids walk out of school and head to the #WhiteHouse to protest guns #ParklandShooting pic.twitter.com/LShzdDzaPI
— Zoe Daniel (@zdaniel) March 14, 2018
Photos of the signs from the walkout #schoolwalkouts pic.twitter.com/jt9eNEQP5d
— Paige Martin (@Paige__Martin_) March 14, 2018
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