Students in Atlanta take a knee to protest gun violence on day of national walkout

© Twitter: Latisha Gray, Atlanta Public Schools

Dozens of students in Atlanta took a knee on Wednesday in a silent protest to honor the victims of the Florida high school shooting.

Students nationwide took part in a 17-minute national walkout on Wednesday, exactly one month since a gunman killed 17 people and injured 14 others at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

Administrators at Booker T. Washington High School threatened to “severely punish” students participating in walkouts, but allowed students to conduct an ordered, silent demonstration, according to tweets posted by Guardian reporter Jamiles Lartey.

As many as 100 students participated on each floor of the school in the protest, according to Lartey, who added that the school was put on lockdown to prevent students from leaving.

“Taking a knee” began among NFL players to protest police brutality and racial inequality. President Trump harshly criticized players who participated in the protests and repeatedly called for team owners to fire them.

Students nationwide have been calling on lawmakers to pass stricter gun and school safety laws in response to the Florida shooting, with many organizing protests and walkouts. Survivors of the Florida shooting are planning the “March for Our Lives” in Washington, D.C. later this month, and local marches have been planned nationwide for that day.

SOURCE: http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/378344-students-at-atlanta-high-school-take-a-knee-to-protest-gun-violence