You may have heard the buzz lately, of students talking about walking out of class on April 20th. At first it seems like they’re just planning on skipping class, but they’re not. While they may not be in class, they are still learning. They are learning to stand up for what they believe in, and learning to peacefully protest.

2018, unfortunately, has been the year of school shootings, with already 13 intentional firearm attacks across 2017 and 2018, and 30 total deaths, the most recent school shooting taking place March 20th, at Great Mills High School in Maryland, which killed one student and injured another, following the Parkland school shooting on February 14th, which killed 17 and injured 14 others.

The survivors of the Parkland school shooting have been pushing for change, and making sure their voices are heard. They have helped organize several events, such as marches and protests. Most recently, March For Our Lives took place, where citizens across America walked to their city’s capital, protesting for stronger gun control, and protesting against the National Rifle Association.

This march is not the first, nor the last event, following the recent string of school shootings. The next scheduled event is the National Walkout, on April 20th, the anniversary of the Columbine shooting that resulted in 15 deaths. The Walkout will start at 10 am, with students walking out of class, to the front of the school, protesting, and end when the school day does.

The walkout is a peaceful protest used to bring awareness to the fact that students want change, and that we are willing to miss a day of school in honor of all the students that will never get to go to school again, and to bring awareness to gun violence in America.

Follow @cvmswalkout on Instagram for more information.