The shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas in Parkland, Florida, on Feb. 14 marked the 18^th school shooting in 2018 and resulted in 17 deaths. Students and teachers nationwide wanted to honor the lives a month after the shooting by walking out.

“I told the principal that we didn’t want the walkout without administrative support, and we wanted to work with the school to make sure that the students were not faced with disciplinary actions,” Kailen Kim, sophomore, said.

The walkout took place on March 14 from 10 a.m. to 10:17 a.m.; seventeen minutes to honor the lives lost in the latest Florida shooting, one minute for each life. At Etowah, students lead the walkout.

“I saw other students being punished for walking out; I was so glad when I found out Mr. Horn was letting us do it,” Lindsey Phillips, junior, said.

Sophmores, Kim and Eli Hughes, read poems, lead a chant preaching no more violence which echoed throughout the New Gym, and Mr. Horn spoke about the importance of students exercising the right to protest.

“It is a hope that these events will be a time for students to reflect on the lives lost in Parkland, strengthen their feelings of school unity and know that their school district supports them,” Barbara Jacoby, Chief Communications Officer for CCSD, said in an email to parents and students.

Unlike some other schools, Etowah allowed the walkout to take place. However, the walkout occurring on April 20 is not sanctioned by Cherokee County School Distract.

“I was surprised we were allowed to walkout, and I was happy about. I will be doing it [the walkout] on the 20. I know that I’ll get in trouble for it but it’s something I support,” Cole Roy, junior, said.

April 20 is the anniversary of the Columbine shooting, and the completely student-run national walkout will be an all-day event. Students set up tables in the main cafeteria where those who are 18 can register to vote, and there are other activities planned to honor the victims.