NATIONAL SCHOOL WALKOUT: Metro Atlanta students protest gun violence

Education

National School Walkout: Metro Atlanta students protest gun violence

PHOTOS: Students around the metro Atlanta area walked out of their classrooms as a protest against gun violence following the Parkland High shooting in Florida.

Students at Inman Middle School in Virginia-Highland display protest signs. AMANDA COYNE / AJC

In Clayton County, Mundy’s Mill Middle School seventh grader Deonte Barkley created a poster for the protest. MITCHELL NORTHAM / AJC

In Cobb County, a group of about 40 Walton High parents and community members observe a moment of silence outside the school at 10 a.m. VANESSA McCRAY / AJC

Decatur High students hold signs demanding action during the walkout. MAUREEN DOWNEY / AJC

In Cobb County, Sprayberry High School resource officers and teachers were posted outside to make sure students would not leave the campus. JOHN SPINK / AJC

Atlanta City Council members and city employees participate in the walkout. ATLANTA CITY COUNCIL / TWITTER

Students at Washington High in Atlanta planned a silent protest by taking a knee and bowing in the hallways to honor 17 victims in the Marjorie Stoneman Douglas shooting. LATISHA GRAY / TWITTER

This is the walkout scene from Lambert High School in Suwanee. FROM TWITTER

Northview High School students display protest posters. FROM TWITTER

West Forsyth High students carry balloons as part of their protest. FROM TWITTER

Students from Marietta High School pose for a photo during the walkout. FROM TWITTER

Sylvan Hills Middle School students show off their protest posters. FROM TWITTER

The protest scene at Sylvan Hills Middle School in Atlanta. FROM TWITTER

The Westlake High stadium was packed during the walkout. FROM TWITTER

Atlanta City Council members and city employees participate in the walkout. ATLANTA CITY COUNCIL / TWITTER

Students at Bunche Middle School in Atlanta take part in the walkout. DR. ISIS MANBOARD / TWITTER

Katie Hemsworth wrote on Twitter: “Biked over to Grady HS to show my support on #NationalWalkoutDay. Impressed by the student-led speeches, chants, and demands for action at community and governmental levels.” KATIE HEMSWORTH / TWITTER

Lakeside High students take part in the protest on campus. MARLON A. WALKER / AJC

Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent Meria Carstarphen (front) takes a selfie with student protesters at Inman Middle School. AMANDA COYNE / AJC

3/14/18 - Atlanta - Rep. Erica Thomas, D - Austell, leads House Democrats out of the chamber to start their walkout. House and Senate Democrats staged a "walkout" this morning in support of the school walkout in protest of gun violence. BOB ANDRES /BANDRES@AJC.COM

3/14/18 - Atlanta - Rep. Erica Thomas, D - Austell, speaks in support of the student walkout during the Democrats press conference. House and Senate Democrats staged a "walkout" this morning in support of the school walkout in protest of gun violence. BOB ANDRES /BANDRES@AJC.COM

3/14/18 - Atlanta - Democratic House and Senate members hold photos of Parkland school shooting victims during their press conference. House and Senate Democrats staged a "walkout" this morning in support of the school walkout in protest of gun violence and held a press conference on the matter. BOB ANDRES /BANDRES@AJC.COM

3/14/18 - Atlanta - Rep. Bee Nguyen, D - Atlanta, holds a photos of Peter Wang, 15, one of the Parkland school shooting victims during the Democrats press conference.
House and Senate Democrats staged a "walkout" this morning in support of the school walkout in protest of gun violence and held a press conference on the matter. BOB ANDRES /BANDRES@AJC.COM

March 14, 2018 Atlanta - Students react as each 17 Florida high school shooting victims' name was called during a walk out protest calling for action on gun violence outside Lakeside High School on Wednesday, March 14, 2018. National School Walkout was held Wednesday morning, exactly one month after the mass shooting at a Florida high school that killed 17. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

March 14, 2018 Atlanta - Hundreds of students from Lakeside High School participate in a walk out calling for action on gun violence outside Lakeside High School on Wednesday, March 14, 2018. National School Walkout was held Wednesday morning, exactly one month after the mass shooting at a Florida high school that killed 17. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

March 14, 2018 Atlanta - At 10 a.m. students head out to participate in a walk out protest calling for action on gun violence at Lakeside High School on Wednesday, March 14, 2018. Students across the Metro Atlanta area held walkouts to protest gun violence as part of a nationwide demonstration. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

March 14, 2018 Atlanta - At 10 a.m. students head out to participate in a walk out protest calling for action on gun violence at Lakeside High School on Wednesday, March 14, 2018. Students across the Metro Atlanta area held walkouts to protest gun violence as part of a nationwide demonstration. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

March 14, 2018 - Atlanta, Ga: Sixth grade students from left to right; Abby Morris, Callamei Chan, and Leyla Cooke form a human chain surrounding as much of the school as they can during the National School Walkout Day at Inman Middle School Wednesday, September 29, 2017, in Atlanta. The activities align with the national call for a 17-minute walkout to honor the 17 victims of the High School shooting in South Florida in February 2018. Inman Middle School is in the Atlanta Public School district. PHOTO / JASON GETZ

March 14, 2018 - Atlanta, Ga: Eighth grade student organizer Malori Switzer uses a bull horn to lead chants during the National School Walkout Day at Inman Middle School Wednesday, September 29, 2017, in Atlanta. The activities align with the national call for a 17-minute walkout to honor the 17 victims of the High School shooting in South Florida in February 2018. Following a short rally the students held hands and formed a human chain surrounding as much of the school as they can. Inman Middle School is in the Atlanta Public School district. PHOTO / JASON GETZ

March 14, 2018 - Atlanta, Ga: Eighth grade student organizer Malori Switzer wears a shirt designed by a fellow student to wear during the National School Walkout Day at Inman Middle School Wednesday, September 29, 2017, in Atlanta. The activities align with the national call for a 17-minute walkout to honor the 17 victims of the High School shooting in South Florida in February 2018. Following a short rally the students held hands and formed a human chain surrounding as much of the school as they can. Inman Middle School is in the Atlanta Public School district. PHOTO / JASON GETZ

March 14, 2018 - Atlanta, Ga: A middle school student holds a sign reading, "Are We Next?" during the National School Walkout Day at Inman Middle School Wednesday, September 29, 2017, in Atlanta. The activities align with the national call for a 17-minute walkout to honor the 17 victims of the High School shooting in South Florida in February 2018. Inman Middle School is in the Atlanta Public School district. PHOTO / JASON GETZ

Cross Keys High School students hold a school walkout in Atlanta, on Wednesday, March 14, 2018.They rallied outside and some students spoke demanding to authorities a better gun control. Students across the Metro Atlanta area held walkouts to protest gun violence as part of a nationwide demonstration.

A 12th grader Tayler Batts gave a speech outside cross Keys High School were hundreds of students participate in a walkout in Atlanta, on Wednesday, March 14, 2018. Students across the Metro Atlanta area held walkouts to protest gun violence as part of a nationwide demonstration.

March 14, 2018 Atlanta: Noel Wheatley (left) and Nick Galenkamp attend a rally with other area students at Liberty Plaza by the Georgia Capitol after their school walkouts on Wednesday, March 14, 2018, in Atlanta. At the conclusion of the rally many attempted to meet with their state representatives. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com

March 14, 2018 Atlanta: Area students hold letters and signs to deliver to their representatives while attending a rally in Liberty Plaza at the Georgia Capitol after their school walkouts on Wednesday, March 14, 2018, in Atlanta. At the conclusion of the rally many went inside to meet with their state representatives. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com

March 14, 2018 Atlanta: Students march to their representatives offices to deliver letters and discuss gun violence at the conclusion of a rally in Liberty Plaza at the Georgia Capitol following their school walkouts on Wednesday, March 14, 2018, in Atlanta. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com

March 14, 2018 Atlanta: Druid Hills High School students Virginia Hudspeth (from left), Callie Weidman, and Ellie Welsch attend a rally in Liberty Plaza at the Georgia Capitol after their school walkouts on Wednesday, March 14, 2018, in Atlanta. At the conclusion of the rally many students went to meet with their state representatives. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com

March 14, 2018 Atlanta: Druid Hills High School students Callie Weidman and Ellie Welsch (left), along with other area students, attend a rally in Liberty Plaza at the Georgia Capitol after their school walkouts on Wednesday, March 14, 2018, in Atlanta. At the conclusion of the rally many students went to meet with their state representatives. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com

March 14, 2018 Atlanta: Local students look on while Druid Hills High School junior Anabette Vellines speaks out against gun violence during a rally in Liberty Plaza at the Georgia Capitol after their school walkouts on Wednesday, March 14, 2018, in Atlanta. At the conclusion of the rally many attempted to meet with their state representatives. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com

March 14, 2018 Atlanta: Area students and parents attend a rally in Liberty Plaza at the Georgia Capitol after their school walkouts on Wednesday, March 14, 2018, in Atlanta. At the conclusion of the rally many attempted to meet with their state representatives. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com

At 10 a.m. Marist School students were invited to leave their classrooms and congregate in alumni plaza. MARIST SCHOOL / FACEBOOK

A Westlake student holds a protest sign during the walkout. FROM TWITTER

Students and a few adults confront House Public Safety Committee Chairman Alan Powell, R-Hartwell, in a crowded Georgia State Capitol hallway to seek action on an assault weapons ban bill. MARK NIESSE / AJC

Not all student protests were held during the school day. Duluth High School students led an afterschool walk to the Town Green.

1 / 44

Students at Inman Middle School in Virginia-Highland display protest signs. AMANDA COYNE / AJC

Today's Gallery Headlines

PHOTOS: Falcons struggle early, fall short late in loss to Bears

PHOTOS: Ossoff, Bottoms hold campaign rally at Cobb Convention Center

PHOTOS: Bulldogs fall to Auburn in Athens

PHOTOS: Atlanta Dream face the Golden State Valkyries in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals

More Galleries

PHOTOS: Morehouse School of Medicine holds commencement ceremony

PHOTOS: KSU graduates class of 2026

PHOTOS: Emory graduates class of 2026

PHOTOS: Berry College holds 2026 commencement ceremonies