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Fairfield County Students Stand Up, Speak Out On School Walkout Day

Hundreds of Fairfield County students, teachers and administrators participated in the National School Walkout on Wednesday to call on Congress for tighter gun control laws.

Unedited footage of the Greenwich walkout.

Photo Credit: Greenwich Public Schools
Students in Greenwich at their walkout.

Students in Greenwich at their walkout.

Photo Credit: Contributed

Students joined their peers around the country at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, March 14 as part of the ENOUGH National School Walkout, which is “to protest Congress’ inaction to do more than tweet thoughts and prayers in response to the gun violence plaguing our schools and neighborhoods.”

Many schools allowed students chose to walk out of class for 17 minutes and are increasing security to ensure the actions are organized and safe. Other districts have forbidden participation, citing safety concerns and objections to disrupting class time.

In Stamford, students filled the stands of the high school gym while students and teachers gave speeches. 

In Ridgefield, more than 1,500 students participated in the "Lap of Love" event at the high school, which had been planned weeks ago.

“We need action. 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,” according to organizers of the national movement.

“Students and staff have the right to teach and learn in an environment free from the worry of being gunned down in their classrooms or on their way home from school. Parents have the right to send their kids to school in the mornings and see them home alive at the end of the day.”

“This walkout is in response to the shooting at a Parkland, Fla. high school on Feb. 14, and countless other shootings over the past few years,” students stated. “Enough is enough! Us students are the future, and our voices must be heard. We can make a difference.”

"We are not safe at school," organizers stated. "We are not safe in our cities and towns. Congress must take meaningful action to keep us safe and pass federal gun reform legislation that addresses 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.”

“Today’s event was student-designed and student-driven. We wanted to be able to come together in one space to be unified in delivering our message, rather than scattered about,” Greenwich Studeny Body President Greg Goldstein said in his speech to his classmates. “No matter what side of the political spectrum you may fall on, we can all agree that no one should go through school scared for their life….We are here today to bond as a school, community, state, and nation to say ‘enough is enough.'"

Fairfield County students from various schools in these towns participated in various walkouts: 

  • Bethel Public Schools
  • Bridgeport Public Schools
  • Brookfield Public Schools
  • Danbury Public Schools
  • Darien Public Schools
  • Fairfield Public Schools
  • Greenwich Public Schools
  • Monroe Public Schools
  • New Canaan Public Schools
  • New Fairfield Public Schools
  • Newtown Public Schools
  • Norwalk Public Schools
  • Ridgefield Public Schools
  • Shelton Public Schools
  • Sherman Public Schools
  • Stamford Public Schools
  • Westport Public Schools
  • Weston Public Schools
  • Wilton Public Schools

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