An illustration shows students split between protesting and not paying attention at a walkout. Clarke Central High School participated in a statewide walkout on Sept. 20, however, only some participating students remained respectful. “The protesting students had the confidence to voice their feelings and demand stricter gun laws, but others couldn’t even stay quiet for a moment of silence for the shooting victims,” Viewpoints Editor Isabella Gresham wrote. Illustration by Sam Harwell
CCHS participated in a statewide walkout on Sept. 20, but not every student came to protest for stricter gun laws.
When will school shootings be taken seriously within Clarke Central High School’s walls?
How many school shootings have to happen before students care? How many miles from CCHS must one be before students listen and behave respectfully? How many innocent people have to lose their lives before it becomes something teenagers are willing to actually pay attention to?
Evidently, the answer is more.
On Sept. 20, CCHS participated in a statewide walkout initiated by The Georgia Youth Justice Coalition after a shooting at Apalachee High School on Sept. 4 left four people dead and nine injured.
While a group of students stood bravely with signs and a megaphone to protest for stricter gun laws in Georgia, most of the other “participating” students talked over them, played games and were generally disrespectful.
How many innocent people have to lose their lives before it becomes something teenagers are willing to actually pay attention to?
The shooting at AHS happened 26 miles down the road from CCHS, and yet that still didn’t seem close enough for the student body to care.
The protesting students had the confidence to voice their feelings and demand stricter gun laws, but others couldn’t even stay quiet for a moment of silence for the shooting victims.
“There’s a lot of students (at the walkout) who don’t care about the actual issue and are just here to skip (class), but I think the people who do care are making a difference, and if people take a second to listen to them, they would realize what is happening around us,” CCHS freshman Scarlett Alston, who actively protested, said. I think there’s a lot of students here who don’t really care about the actual issue and are just here to skip, but I think the people who do care are making a difference, and if people take a second to listen to them, they would realize what is happening around us.
Protesting is the most teenagers can do at such a young age to advocate for stricter gun laws to make our futures more secure. However, when the very people that school shootings affect the most can’t seem to bother with the pressing issue, how are the people who can enact change supposed to care?
When all students’ futures are in the hands of politicians who aren’t living in fear five days a week, the least students can do is support those brave enough to speak up for their safety.
Those who stood with their signs and spoke out exemplified what school protests should look like. If the remaining students only care enough to mime interest, they’re not only not making a difference, but also setting the active protestors back.
When there are few ways high school students can beg for change to be made, it is important to take advantage of protests. Those who have the courage must continue to fight for their futures which, at the very least, everyone should respect.
