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These images from the National School Walkout are powerful beyond belief

Students of all ages left their classrooms to fight for gun control.
 By 
Nicole Gallucci
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Students, teachers, and faculty members at schools across America are participating in a National School Walkout to take a bold stand against gun violence.

After a mass shooting killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida on Feb. 14, grieving and distraught teens, families, and citizens began organizing protests to demand Congress take stricter action on gun control laws in the country.

On March 14 — the one-month anniversary of the deadly Florida shooting — people of all ages at educational institutions across the country will participate in a National School Walkout. The protest will start at 10 a.m. local time and last for 17 minutes in honor of the 17 lives of those killed in the tragic shooting.

SEE ALSO: Here's how to take action on gun control

East coast kicks things off

At 10 a.m. on the east coast, the first protesters left their classrooms to inspire change. Many used social media to give live updates from their protest sites, sharing photographs, video, and their personal reasons for walking out.

Central and Mountain time zone joins in

Massive numbers of students across the east coast — in elementary schools, middle schools, high schools and universities — left their classrooms at 10 a.m. wearing statement-making shirts, holding signs, and chanting words against gun violence to inspire change. Some students locked arms and embraced, others stood hand-in-hand in silence, and some chose to lie down side-by-side to reflect on the thousands of children who’ve lost their lives during school shootings over the years.

Striking images, footage, and social media testimonials from the peaceful protests on the east coast gained serious support online and served as powerful inspiration for students outside the east coast participate in the movement a couple of hours later.

When the time came for students in the middle of the country to stage their own walkout, kids of all ages followed in their peers footsteps and bravely left their classrooms. Here’s a look at some of the inspiring children protesting gun violence in the Central and Mountain time zones.

West coast wraps things up

Following their peers in Central and Eastern time zones, students on the west coast also took the time out of their mornings to walk out of their schools and remember the lives lost in the Parkland shooting and beyond.

Many kids from classrooms in California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Idaho donned with powerful handmade signs demanded an end to gun violence in their communities and tougher gun laws for obtaining assault rifles. In Seattle, some students have planned additional rallies after they recognize the 17 victims.

Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee has recently spoken out about the need for stricter gun control laws, and reportedly confronted President Trump on the matter earlier this year. Oregon legislature also strengthened some of the state's gun laws this month and passed a bill banning those with domestic violence convictions on their record from owning a gun. Meanwhile in California, where gun laws are already relatively tough, even more bills are expected to be introduced this year.

The world stands in solidarity

The brave students received massive amounts of support and encouragement from celebrities, activists, parents, and advocates around the world. Many tweeted in solidarity using hashtags like #NationalWalkoutDay, #StudentsStandUp, #NeverAgain, and #Enough.

The National School Walkout on Wednesday was planned by a group associated with Women's March organizers called EMPOWER. The Parkland, Florida, shooting has also inspired similar protests such as March 24th's March for Our Lives and another National School Walkout on April 20th to mark the 19-year anniversary of the Columbine High School shooting.

Additional reporting by Martha Tesema.

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Topics Activism Gun Control Social Good

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Nicole Gallucci

Nicole is a Senior Editor at Mashable. She primarily covers entertainment and digital culture trends, and in her free time she can be found watching TV, sending voice notes, or going viral on Twitter for admiring knitwear. You can follow her on Twitter @nicolemichele5.

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