Tyrone Students Remember Parkland Shooting Victims With Walkout
Students gathered in the auditorium for a memorial video and moment of silence.
Freshman Dean Grassi and junior Hanna Gampe, and Mrs. Tiffany Johannides
On February 14, 2018, 17 young Americans lost their lives in the Marjory Stoneman-Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida. On March 14, one month after the tragedy, thousands of students across the nation walked out of school at 10:00 am to protest gun violence. The walkouts lasted until 10:17 am.
Seventeen minutes for 17 victims.
The vast majority of students at Tyrone Area High School joined this national movement and walked out of their classes at 10 am yesterday.
However, instead of leaving the school grounds, the Tyrone High School administration asked students to go to the high school auditorium rather than into the parking lot. The school cited the safety as the reason they did not want students leaving the building.
While some students that participated expressed disappointment that they were asked to stay in the building, all the students who walked out of class went to the auditorium.
In the auditorium they watched a video memorializing the 17 victims. Following the video, a moment of silence was observed for the victims. Then junior Hannah Gampe and freshman Dean Grassi read an excerpt from a speech.
“Make friends with 17 kids you normally wouldn’t. Lift 17 people who are feeling down. Support 17 people who don’t have a cheering section,” said Gampe. “Accept 17 people for who they are. Stand up for 17 people who are too shy to do it for themselves. Welcome 17 people who need support,” added Grassi.
Some of the students in attendance said that they went in support of new gun control laws while others said they were there only to honor the victims of the Parkland shooting.
“I went to the walkout because 17 victims deserve to be memorialized. It’s the least I could do to remember them. Being a high school student, it hit close to home. It can happen to any of us. Some of those victims were freshmen. They were so young. They’ll never graduate, they’ll never go to prom, they’ll never get married. It’s a story that shouldn’t be unfinished,” said junior Olivia Watson.
However, not all the students participated in the walkout or attended the program. Approximately ten percent of the students at the high school chose not to attend because they felt the assembly was anti-gun rights while others chose to stay away for other reasons.
“I didn’t go to the walkout because I knew students were making jokes about it and I didn’t want to be there to see that. I can show my respect in different ways,” said junior Taylor Pighetti.
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Toni Abruzzo Ramirez • Mar 25, 2018 at 12:08 pm
I just want you all to know that my heart bleeds for your heartache. I am 73 years old. The last time I saw so much conviction within the youth of this country was for civil right and protesting the Vietnam war. We made many mistakes fighting for change.
I see in all of you HOPE! It has been a long time since I have felt, with so much conviction, that the young generation will make this happen. You have a long long road ahead and there will be many strong naysayers. Many will be condescending, but Please don’t let that deter you! The hardest thing to do will be to get all the young people to register to vote and then most importantly to get to the polls. You can only win if you change Washington! All the marches won’t make the changing of this country but voting will.
If I can help in any way please let me know. Keep up the good work. Toni Abruzzo Ramirez (California)
Jay • Mar 19, 2018 at 8:58 am
I might Be apart of this Generation. This is not what our founding Father Expecting For the 21st Generation. I have to say the School Officer that was working at the school of parkland Florida on that Could Have saved some of the lives taken on that day. Maybe not all But not all 17 of those lives that were taken. Why would Anyone do something like this It’s Heart Breaking When I read About this when I got home I was Extremely Heart broken. How did we go to No Shootings To one A month to 1 a week. Then Kids Are posting threatening messages On social Media. I think That some Parents are afraid to send there kids to school and I cant blame them. I want this generation to grow up.Shooting Are Probability the most embarrassing thing to do. there are other ways to get through this to relief what whatever you are going through. But taking someone elses life for what reason. To relief some Anger. If you are a Chathic Cristain Arabic Arab Musslam I Honestly Don’t care I look at every one the same. But once you go out and do something like this than you are the biggest part of Evil Ever.
Frances Hugg • Mar 17, 2018 at 9:48 pm
As a retired high school teacher, I can say that I am very proud that students of this generation are speaking now in tribute to their fellow students whose lives were lost. Such an admirable memorial.
Janet Kennedy • Mar 17, 2018 at 10:37 am
Each and every student who joined the walk-out is saving lives! There is nothing greater.
Carol Taylor • Mar 17, 2018 at 10:00 am
Thank you for taking a stand against gun violence.
It is irritating when important matters of governance are dismissed with the statement that it is “political”. As if governance isn’t something government should be concerned with- enacting laws that benefit the public good. This is an issue, that engenders the expectation is that our government will act. And if they do not, the students, the public, should demand it. Know that the majority of people support you. It is irrational, fear based NRA propaganda that people buy into. Keep up the fight. We are proud of you!
Meera Bajwa • Mar 17, 2018 at 9:28 am
The future is bright if these kids—with their brains, vision, and heart are representative. Silence solves NOTHING. This is THEIR country and they will decide what kind of future we have. Fortunately they seem to be logical and analytical people. The evidence shows unregulated guns kill. The rest is propaganda. The status quo must end. Bravo Tyrone students!
Sandra Dangler • Mar 16, 2018 at 5:45 pm
I am very proud and encouraged by this generation who has found their voice and stand up for what they believe in. They give me hope for the future.
Thank you Tyrone students.
Gillian Kratzer • Mar 16, 2018 at 2:57 pm
I am so proud to know that their are students in this county that care deeply about making a difference in the world. It gives me hope to know that many of you already understand that when people say something isn’t political, what they’re really saying is that it doesn’t affect them. Gun violence in schools isn’t a problem we should wait to address until we’re struck with tragedy. Thank you for pushing forward this conversation in your community, even when it’s hard.