Romeoville High School Student Walkout Postponed After Online Threat
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A student walkout at Romeoville High School has been postponed, due to a social media post apparently showing a student holding a gun. Police determined the gun wasn't real and there was no threat, but the school changed its walkout plans as a precaution.
Students in Romeoville had planned to join the National School Walkout demonstration against gun violence on Wednesday.
However, Romeoville police said they were notified Tuesday of an Instagram post showing a male student holding what appeared to be a firearm. Although police determined it was actually an air-soft gun, and there was no threat to student safety, the school changed its plans for Wednesday as a precaution.
Classes were scheduled to go on as normal. The school said the walkout that had been planned for 10 a.m. has been postponed until a later date.
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Principal Jim Blaney said, instead, students who wish can join him in the gym at 10 a.m. for a private demonstration.
Meantime, a handful of pro-gun supporters showed up at the school to voice their concerns.
"It looks callous, it looks like we don't care, but we really do. The problem is what we want to be heard on is that it's not about the gun. It's not about the weapon. There are mental health issues that are going on here that are not being addressed," said Mary Callison, with 1 Million Moms Against Gun Control.
Callison said "I bawled my eyes out" for the victims of the Parkland shooting, but said she believes the kids taking part in Wednesday's walkouts were being "used as pawns in the anti-gun game."
Blaney said he was not worried about the counter-demonstration. The school already had planned to have an increased police presence to keep students safe for the walkout. While the walkout has been postponed, Blaney said the extra police presence will stay in place to ensure school safety.