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By Dominick Buccitti – Editor-in-Chief

Students at Jonathan Law stood up for their rights and sat down together, in memory of the victims of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida.

On March 14, Jonathan Law High School participated in National Walkout Day, which was started by the March For Our Lives campaign. This organization was started by the students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas, to fight against gun violence, especially in schools.

Students all around the world participated, where they walked out of school. The duration of the walkout was 17 minutes, one minute for each victim of the shooting.

“I feel that it was important to hold a walkout in this way because gun violence in school is becoming a more prevalent issue in our society and something needs to be done about the gun laws in our country,” senior Salma Samih said.

Principal Mr. Thompson, Assistant Principal Mr. Hoggatt, and Assistant Principal Mr. Marko, worked with the student leaders of all of the grades to discuss how the walkout would be approached.

Senior Colleen Hugo was one of the senior leaders who stepped forward to organize the event.

“I feel very strongly about this issue,” senior Colleen Hugo said. “When Mr. Marko asked who wanted to make the announcement over the loudspeaker, I just decided to raise my hand.”

On the day of the walkout, additional police officers were present. The Law administration, faculty, and staff were posted near the front of the school that students sat and stood.

After the walkout was over, Fox 61 interviewed Hugo, Samih, and senior Grace Piselli, who were very passionate about the approach to Law’s walkout day.

“I was extremely proud and excited being a leader in this event,” Piselli said. “I was very happy I was able to be in a position where I could take action and hopefully make a change in our country about a subject I’m very passionate about.”