DENVER — Students in the Denver metro area and across the country are expected to walk out of classes on Friday, the 19th anniversary of the Columbine High School shooting, in their latest push for gun control.
But they won’t be protesting at Columbine. Classes have been canceled at the Jefferson County school just as they have been every April 20 since the massacre.
District leaders have asked nearby schools to join students and staff in holding days of service instead of walkouts.
More than 2,700 walkouts are planned, according to the National School Walkout group.
Students will walk out of classrooms at 10 a.m. Dozens of schools in Colorado have registered to do so.
The movement is led by students. Their mission is to “Together, we will send a message that we won’t tolerate anymore inaction on this issue. And if cowardly politicians fail to act, young people will show them the consequences of letting so many Americans die by voting them out in November.”
Some middle schools in Colorado are registered on the website for the walkout. At least one walkout is planned in every state across the country.
Denver Public Schools said it is aware of the possibility of walkouts and information from school leaders is that students will march to the state Capitol.
For other schools not close to the Capitol, other forms of protest are planned.