About 50 high school students from around Allegan County gathered outside the Allegan Vocational Technical Center Wednesday to take part in a walkout ceremony memorializing the victims of the Parkland, Fla., school shooting Feb. 14.
Organizer was Austin Marsman, president of the senior class at Martin High School. In prepared remarks, he said during the ceremony:
“Today we join the millions of students walking out to demand action a month after the horrible events in Parkland Florida. We, as students of Allegan County, come together as one voice at one location.
“We stand in solidarity today with our classmates, specifically those from Otsego, Plainwell, and Martin. No school should be threatened by violence, we will not let fear win.
“Our hearts hurt for those who were lost to a senseless act of awful violence. Join me in a minute of silence to remember those killed at Douglas Stoneman High School… Thank you.
“These 17 people were more than names, they were people who you saw every day at school, people who have family and friends. Seventeen lives were taken and many were forever changed exactly one month ago.
“Our mission today is to make sure that our lawmakers and other officials know. We want them to know that we care about our safety and we want something done about it. We want something done now.
“Tweeting your thoughts and prayers is not enough, we want action. Our schools should be safe spaces where kids should be able to learn unharmed.
“We shouldn’t have to leave the house wondering ‘What if I am killed in a school shooting today?’. We shouldn’t have to fear when we drop off our siblings that it could be the last time we see them.
“Let’s start with the guns because that’s what seems to be a weapon of choice since Columbine. Over time, guns have gotten more advanced and more available.
“We, as young people, don’t get why it is harder to make plans with friends on the weekend than it is to buy an AR-15 at your local gun shop. Today, we demand stricter, more through, and more modern background checks.
“Why is it so controversial to make sure people who shouldn’t have guns don’t get them? To me, this idea sounds like common sense.
“I’d like to take a moment and thank the police officers who keep us safe every day. You guys rock and we hope that the new school safety initiative will build positive relationships across the county in addition to security.
“As students, we would also like to acknowledge the work our administrators do across the county to keep schools safe. It is comforting to know that we have your support today. Believe it or not, there is something we can do today to prevent these horrible acts of violence in our schools. It starts with us. We must reach out to everyone so that not one person feels isolated or alone, we must invite them over to play basketball, do homework, or go out to eat. We must make them feel welcome.
“While lawmakers debate a solution, we must do our part. Let’s build each other up with encouraging words instead of the baggage that weighs us down.
“Thank you, for coming out today, I see a future here. The movement does not end on March 14. This will not leave the headlines. There are marches on the 24th, including one at Rosa Parks Circle in Grand Rapids.”
Meanwhile, Wayland Union Schools Supt. Norm Taylor and Director of Instruction Teresa Fulk issued a statement in anticipation of student walkouts on the one month anniversary of the shootings:
“In light of recent events, students at Wayland Union Schools are concerned about school safety, just like millions of other students across our nation. Some of our students have expressed an interest in joining their peers nationally on March 14th in voicing their concerns and to bring attention to the subject of overall school safety. We applaud their desire to speak up about issues of direct concern to them, namely respect, tolerance, and matters of school safety.
“Some of our student leaders have organized an opportunity for students to express their First Amendment rights to peaceable assembly and free speech. Any of these student-led activities are strictly voluntary students may choose to participate or stay in class with their teacher. As a public entity, the school district and school personnel cannot organize such activities or engage in any protests during school time. However, we can work to maintain a safe environment and minimal disruptions to the school day during any student led activities.
“Our administration has been in communication with our student leaders and established parameters for any student led demonstrations. These parameters are not designed to curb student expression but to ensure overall safety and maintain the learning environment. During these student-organized activities, we will take extra steps to maintain security and have invited area law enforcement to be present for any activities that might occur outside of school on our school campus (weather permitting). Mr. Mike Miller, our district Security Officer, is coordinating security through our administration and local law enforcement.
“Students will not be disciplined for participating in any student organized walk-out or peaceful assembly during the established time frame. Students who might leave school property after the conclusion of these events would be subject to the usual consequences per the respective Student Handbooks
“Finally, as you may have already read or heard, in response to the new initiative from Sheriff Frank Baker, the Allegan County Sheriff’s Department and local law enforcement from the Wayland City Police Department, Tribal Police, and Michigan State Police will be increasing their periodic presence in all of our schools. As always, we welcome law enforcement officers into our schools to visit or for training activities, including a MSP training already scheduled for March 14 at Wayland Union H.S. We just wanted to make you aware of this previously scheduled training in case you notice multiple police vehicles at our schools this week.”
