Students across Northeast Ohio put down their pens and walked out of their classrooms on Wednesday to honor the 17 people killed in the Parkland, Florida school shooting and to protest gun violence.
While many students were in high school, some of the youngest activists showing their support were elementary students from Case Elementary in Akron. The students had support from faculty and staff to leave their classrooms and hold signs with messages promoting peace and the names of high school lost to gun violence.
Video of Case Elementary students in Akron holding signs to remember the Florida school shooting victims. @WEWS pic.twitter.com/T77r0jNllB
— Bob Jones WEWS (@bobjonesTV) March 14, 2018
"Children all have the right to get a safe education and not have to worry about the dangers of being shot or wounded," said fifth-grade student Gabrielle Raines.
While the students were only outside for 15 minutes, the students hoped their walkout will have a lasting impact.
"We're making a purpose in the world and we're not just trying, we're trying to remember the victims that have passed," said Olan Murray, a fifth-grade student.
