Students from across the Palo Alto Unified School District, as well as from neighboring Castilleja School participated in walkouts this morning advocating for stricter gun control laws in the aftermath of the Feb. 14 shooting in Parkland, Florida. Outside Palo Alto High School, Paly and Castilleja students, joined by members of the activist organization Raging Grannies, protested on Embarcadero road for 17 minutes, standing in solidarity with Parkland and the national movement for gun control. Photo: Angelina Wang
Paly sophomore Emma Donnely-Higgens (center) facilitated the order of hundreds of t-shirts for students to wear during the walkout, emblazoned with the the hashtag #enoughisenough, one of the popular messages of the current gun control movement. Photo: Sophia Muys
Brunch was extended for 17 minutes in order to accommodate the protest, when students walked from Paly's quad to the corner of Embarcadero. Photo: Sophia Muys
Paly junior Warren Wagner, who helped organize the walkout, spoke to the crowd about the importance of civic engagement. Photo: Sophia Muys
In addition to older students, many children, accompanied by parents and chaperones, attended the protest. Photo: Sophia Muys
Many students carried signs with messages pleading for school safety and stricter gun control measures. Photo: Will Sallomi
Sophomore and walkout organizer Zoe Sid led the crowd in chants such as "hey hey, ho ho , the NRA has got to go" and "are we next?" Photo: Angelina Wang
Castilleja junior Alyssa Sales organized a walkout among Castilleja students, who joined Paly students in the walkout. While speaking to the crowd, she advocated for stricter gun control measures to protect students. Photo: Sophia Muys
Students lined Embarcadero road, where people honked in support of the protest from their cars as they drove by. Photo: Angelina Wang
Students were encouraged to wear orange, which is the official color of the gun control movement. Photo: Angelina Wang
A student displays a sign as he stands on the sidewalk alongside Embarcadero road. Photo: Angelina Wang
Community member Laura Dachshund Pitchford spoke about her personal connections to incidents of gun violence. Photo: Will Sallomi
A student holds up a sign featuring another slogan that has grown from the student activism in the wake of the Parkland shooting. photo: Allie Feitzinger
Castilleja senior Lucy Carlson delivered a powerful speech to the protestors. "I'm standing up here because when I'm in class, I have to think about my escape plan." she said. "I think that's wrong." Photo: Sophia Muys
A group of children participated in the protest with their own handmade signs. Photo: Sophia Muys
People with dissenting opinions were also present at the walkout. Paly junior Tucker Biorn drove his truck up to the location of the protest. He flew an American flag and a flag with the words "come and take it" written across the bottom — a design with roots in Texas which has become a symbol advocating for gun rights. "I came [to the protest] to show respect for the people who have died," Biorn said, adding that he also came to express support for the second amendment. "I believe in standing up for our constitutional rights." Photo: Maya Reuven
Palo Alto-based activist group The Raging Grannies, who have participated in multiple protests since Trump's election, joined the students in their protest. Photo: Sophia Muys
Paly senior Louisa Keyani spoke to the crowd about registering to vote. "Voting is the most important form of civic engagement," Keyani said. Later, in an interview with the Paly Voice, Keyani emphasized the importance of student activism. “Student voice shouldn’t be underestimated," Keyani said. "Not only do we stand in solidarity with the victims of MSD [Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School], but we are also using our new platform to take a stand and make a difference as much as we can.” Photo: Sophia Muys