Students across the nation protested against gun violence marking National Walk Out Day. Medaille College students walked out of class at 10 a.m. Friday to a demonstration on the campus.
It included two minutes of silence, reading of school names that have been affected by gun violence and student speeches.
“When students go to school they shouldn’t have to worry about losing their best friends, their team mates, boyfriends, girlfriends to a school shooting,” declared a Medaille student speaker.
Students continue to call for action in the wake of the Parkland, Florida school shootings and other past massacres. Friday also marking the 19th anniversary of the Columbine High School shootings in Colorado.
Medaille students delivered speeches, with some call calling for common sense gun laws. Those participating described that other students refused to join the protest, believing it was an anti-gun event.
“I don’t really think its anti-second amendment or anti-gun. We really need to protect our students in these schools, said Brandon Leone, president of Medaille’s Student Association.
Brandon Leone, president of Medaille’s Student Association.
Credit WBFO News photo by Eileen Buckley
Leone, who organized the demonstration, said they participated in protest the failure of congressional, state and local gun control.
Medaille College President Dr. Kenneth Macur was in full support of the demonstration.
“Having different points of view is part of being a democracy. If any of these issues were simple, they would have been resolved a long time ago,” remarked Macur.
Students who joined the protest are also vowing to vote in this year's elections.
