RHS, Dalton Intermediate students participate in national protest

Nearly 3,000 schools across the country participated in National Walkout Day Wednesday to honor the 17 victims killed in last month’s school shooting in Parkland, Florida and to protest the gun violence epidemic in the US that has resulted in thousands of deaths.

Hundreds of students from Radford High School and Dalton Intermediate participated in the ceremony that went a bit off-script from the original plan.

Due to the cold temperatures, the school system decided to hold the protest in the school auditorium beginning at 10 a.m.

Student were set to read the names of each of the victims from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School with a moment of silence in between each name.

When cards with the victims’ names on them were being passed out, a group of students had second thoughts about holding the gathering inside, so they got up and headed for the door.

“We were like ‘this is not a walkout,’” senior Emily Ward said. “We thought we were going to be the only ones.”

They weren’t. Soon, as if the students were communicating telepathically, everyone began to methodically head outside towards the football field.

Once those participating made it to their destination, they formed a circle and joined hands.

Superintendent Robert Graham made his way around the circle to each person holding a name card. One name was read per minute with Graham keeping time on his phone to let the next person know when it was their turn to read.

After each name, video production teacher Casey Worley, standing in the middle of the circle, hit a triangle as Graham made his way to the next student.

After the 17 minutes was up, students began to head back inside just as calmly and orderly as they had come out.

On the way in, one student remarked that, “standing in the cold was the least we could do to honor the victims. Their friends and family have and will deal with much worse for the rest of their lives.”

Graham and Dalton Intermediate Principal Jerry King said that they didn’t have a problem with the student’s impromptu decision to leave the auditorium.

“My first thought seeing them walkout was, ‘it’s cold,’ Graham joked. “We just wanted to make sure they were safe. We had plenty of administrators and officers around.”

Jones said that he was proud of the way the students handled the situation.

“It was a great way for them to express themselves the right way,” he said. “Just a great learning experience.”

Graham said that students approached administration about doing something to honor the victims weeks ago.

“This idea for them to memorialize the students is something we were very supportive of,” he said. “I’m here to support our students in what they want to do.”

Senior Adri Newman said that while the focus was on memorializing those that lost their lives, it’s also about trying to bring change and an end to gun violence.

She said she and her friends have been inspired by the reactions of the Stoneman Douglas students and their bravery in speaking out for what they believe.

“We are sick of all the rampant gun violence and feeling afraid when we come to school,” she said. Student’s are the future and we want gun reform.”

A friend of Newman’s also expressed gratefulness for the administration’s reaction to the idea of holding the event.

“It’s been really nice. The administration has been really supportive,” they said.

Seniors Brett Wingo and Liam Jessie are supporters of the Second Amendment, but they didn’t see the protest as a partisan issue.

“This was about honoring the victims and their families. There isn’t anything political about that,” Jessie said.

They both agreed that guns should be harder to obtain and the process should be more thorough than it currently is.

“I am a big Second Amendment supporter, but if I have to wait until I’m 21 to own certain guns, I’m all for it if it helps put a stop to all the violence,” Wingo said.