Scared, angry and demanding action: Hundreds walk out of Triangle schools in protest
Students across the Triangle joined students across the nation and walked out of class Friday morning as part of National School Walkout Day to end gun violence.
The national event took place 19 years to the day after 13 students and faculty were killed in an attack at Columbine High School in Colorado.
At Enloe High School in Raleigh, students walked to the football field, where speeches were held and songs were sung.
"We're supposed to come to school to learn and to not be afraid of shooting the place up," said Enloe student Richard Okoro. "We are marching to spread awareness, and it's also a good way to bring us together. Despite our differences, we are all out there marching together. I think that is the beauty of this whole thing."
Gloria Hope, who is also a student at Enloe, said if her peers do not do something to fix the problem, then nothing will happen.
"We saw this happen with Sandy Hook," she said, referring to the 2012 shooting at a Connecticut elementary school. "For a few weeks, everyone wanted to help, but then it fell apart, and nobody thought about it again. So, we decided enough is enough with this, and we need to do something about it right now."
"We should be in school learning, but the fact of the matter is, we don't feel safe to do so."
Ellie Schneider shared her thoughts on what might help.
"I think raising the age that you could be able to access guns and having more background checks and also helping people with mental illness, so that they do not end up with guns in their hands," she said.
School officials at Enloe said students were not punished for walking out, and that the students have a right to protest. However, a time limit was given for Friday's assembly.
Orange County students march down Franklin Street
Hundreds of students from East Chapel Hill High School joined other students from across Orange County in a march down Franklin Street that ended at the post office.
Students walked miles, while chanting and holding signs calling out the NRA and sharing what they say are legitimate safety concerns they have every day they head to school.
Charlie Mascia, a senior at East Chapel Hill, said he hopes Friday's rally will push adults and lawmakers to "do something."
"We shouldn't be here. We should be in school. We should be learning," he said. "But the adults in the country - our elected officials - they are not doing their jobs. They are not stepping up to the plate to protect the American people."
Mascia said the government does things to prevent other disasters, but he does not understand why there is not "common sense gun control."
"What we are looking for here today is common sense gun control. No American needs an assault rifle. No American needs a bump stock, a silencer. We need regulations," he said.
"This stuff can't keep happening," said Camille Witt, a senior at East Chapel Hill. "There is no reason for people to be able to get guns that could be so destructive and there is no reason we should be afraid in our own classrooms."
In the Triangle, walkouts were also held at East Wake Academy, Sanderson High School, Ligon GT Magnet Middle School and North Carolina State University.
Many students plan to rally after school in Raleigh at an event called Why Wake Walks, which begins at 4 p.m. at Halifax Mall.
