Organizers behind the Women’s March are calling for a national school walkout next month to protest Congress’s reaction to mass shootings.
Women’s March Youth Empower is encouraging students, teachers and parents to take part in “#ENOUGH,” a 17-minute school walkout on March 14 at 10 a.m.
“We need action,” the group said on a website promoting the event. “Students and allies are organizing the national school walkout to demand Congress pass legislation to keep us safe from gun violence at our schools, on our streets and in our homes and places of worship.”
The group is encouraging the walkout in protest of “Congress’ inaction to do more than tweet thoughts and prayers in response to the gun violence plaguing our schools and neighborhoods.”
{mosads}“We are not safe at school. We are not safe in our cities and towns,” the group says. “Congress must take meaningful action to keep us safe and pass federal gun reform legislation that address the public health crisis of gun violence.”
“We want Congress to pay attention and take note: many of us will vote this November and many others will join in 2020,” they added.
Over a dozen walkouts are already planned on the event’s website, and the Women’s March group is encouraging more cities and schools to host more.
The city of Parkland, Fla., is one of the planned walkout sites. A deadly mass shooting took place there, at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, on Wednesday. It left 17 people dead.
Democrats have renewed their call for gun control legislation following the attack. Survivors of the attack have joined in the call, demanding GOP lawmakers take action after the shooting.
Dozens of students in Parkland launched a protest Friday against the National Rifle Association and President Trump following the attack.