Georgia students preparing to walk out of school
They are the post-Columbine generation and may have found their cause.
Students, many so young they cannot drive or vote, have been galvanized by the latest school shooting in Florida, and they want to do something about it.
It started with classmates of the murdered in Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, who made their voices heard along with Florida adults to get new gun control legislation approved in Florida and spread across the country.
Student across metro Atlanta and the nation, the ones who grew up from kindergarten practicing live-shooter drills in school, are planning to walk out of classes March 14. Then they will march on March 24 in the streets. They are demanding change, many focused on gun laws.
“It’s amazing to be part of this movement,” said Joelle Friedman, a 17-year-old junior at North Springs High School. “We have students from all over Georgia who are communicating with each other to make this happen.”
Anam Hussain of Douglas County said, “We’re marching for our lives,”
“Since we are the future, I think it’s important for all us us to be taken seriously when it comes to our movements on civil rights and gun reform. People underestimate teenagers.”
Some teenagers will walk out with school administration support. Others will be facing discipline. They are undeterred.
Read the full story about the teens who are organizing the walkouts, hear from parents and others who are on the other side of the issue in MyAJC.com.
About the Authors
Shelia has worked at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for more than 30 years. Previously, she worked at The Lexington Herald-Leader and The Louisville Defender. Her beat is a bit of a mixed bag that includes religion and spirituality, culture and trends, race and aging. She earned degrees from Spelman College and Northwestern University.
