High school students face detention for participating in gun violence protest after Parkland shooting
Tens of thousands of students participated in the protest nationwide
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A Pennsylvania high school has said it will discipline students who walked out of class to protest gun violence in the wake of the school shooting in Parkland, Florida last month.
Pennridge High School said it would give a day of detention to the more than 200 students who walked out of class as part of the nationwide protest on Wednesday, according to local news outlets.
The walkout was organised after the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where a lone gunman shot and killed 17 students and staff members on Valentines Day. Tens of thousands of students participated in the nationwide walkout on the one-month anniversary of the shooting – including approximately 225 students from Pennridge.
The school organised an assembly for the same day, where students were to sit in silence for 17 minutes and watch a slide show honouring the victims. Approximately 800 students attended that assembly, according to Pennridge school district superintendent Jacqueline Rattigan.
“We are proud of the way our students conducted themselves during today’s silent Remembrance Assembly,” Ms Rattigan said in a statement. “...It was a moving experience for those who participated.”
The superintendent added that students who walked out of the school during the assembly would face consequences, which she said were “outlined in advance”.
District public relations coordinator Joe Ferry told the Allentown Morning Call that the consequences would be one Saturday detention for a first offence and two for a second offence. Five students who went to Dunkin’ Donuts during the walkout will face an additional detention.
The protest grew out of the student uprising after the Parkland shooting, when students from the Florida high school and others began lobbying their lawmakers to strengthen gun control laws. Parkland students have met with Florida state lawmakers, participated in a town hall with US senators, and attended a listening session with President Donald Trump. They have also helped organise another walkout in April, and a “March for Our Lives” later this month.
Some schools gave students a free pass to leave the building for the protest on Wednesday. Others, like Pennridge, were not as lenient.
Approximately 150 students who participated in the protest at Park Hill High school in Missouri were given detention or ordered to attend an administrative conference, according to local news outlets. Lindenhurst High School in New York suspended more than two dozen students who participated, but later decreased the punishment to detention.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments