Fresno Unified preps for student walkouts in support of tougher gun laws

Fresno Unified is urging students to “identify alternatives” to walking out of school in protest of the country’s gun laws, following last week’s school shooting in Florida.

National campaigns scheduled for the coming weeks will urge students and teachers to peacefully protest by walking out of class in a call for stricter gun regulations. One walkout, scheduled for March 14, is spearheaded by the organizers of the Women’s March, to “protest Congress’ inaction to do more than Tweet thoughts and prayers in response to the gun violence plaguing our schools and neighborhoods.”

National School Walkout Day, a similar event, is planned for April 20, the 19th anniversary of the Columbine High School shooting.

March for Our Lives – a march “to take action to stop the epidemic of mass school shootings that has become all too familiar” – is planned for Washington, D.C. on March 24.

In a news release Tuesday, Fresno Unified Superintendent Bob Nelson urged students to voice their opinions on gun control in other ways, suggesting they share their concerns with elected officials; discuss it in class; coordinate rallies or use their school’s free speech area between classes.

“In response to last week’s tragedy in Florida, a number of organizations, both locally and nationally, are coordinating school walkouts. Fresno Unified supports the right to protest peacefully, but is also concerned about the safety of students, should they leave campus,” Nelson said. “School leaders and campus staff will be working with student groups to identify alternatives to a walkout that ensure Fresno Unified students have a safe place on campus to express themselves.”

This story was originally published February 20, 2018 at 5:49 PM with the headline "Fresno Unified preps for student walkouts in support of tougher gun laws."