CAPA Students Stage Walkout In Response To Florida High School Shooting
Follow KDKA-TV: Facebook | Twitter
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - Some CAPA High School students walked out of class today in response to the mass shooting in Florida that left 17 people dead.
They walked out of school, determined and pumped up for a cause.
They were 100 strong on Wednesday afternoon, students from CAPA walked several blocks in the rain from their school building at Ninth Street and Fort Duquesne Boulevard to Market Square where they chanted.
"We're students united, we'll never be defeated."
And called for change from adults.
"We are sick of seeing our brothers and sisters around the country being killed."
The faces of the future, faces of young people who are speaking out and daring policymakers and politicians to change gun laws.
What spoke volumes during the protest was no sound at all. The students stood in silence for 17 minutes as they held hands in a circle, united.
It was a minute of silence for each victim in the Parkland, Florida, high school shooting.
Nia Arrington, a senior at CAPA, is one of the organizers.
"Our lawmakers, our president are just giving us hopes and prayers and giving us false hopes and dreams to live by," she said. "It should not be that your child can go to school and die and not come home."
Julia Pecora, a junior at the school says she felt the need to be a part of the march and protest.
"Just hearing about these stories over and over again, it just breaks my heart, and I believe what the nation needs to do is pray for everyone, the people in the school, the families," she said.
Many walking through Market Square had to stop and take it all in.
"I'm really proud of them," said one onlooker. "They are thoughtful, peaceful and sending a message."
When the march was over, there were hugs, tears and a vow to make a difference with their young voices.
"2018 is the year to make changes and our voices will be heard," said another student.
Students across the country are also taking part, planning walkouts, sit-ins, and other actions to push lawmakers to pass tougher gun laws.