Students stage walkouts to demand stricter gun control laws

According to NBC News, the protests were coordinated by gun control advocates affiliated with Everytown for Gun Safety. One of their members spoke to the outlet saying: "It’s impossible to say exactly how many students took part, but we know we had over 200 events where hundreds of students took part."

"This is not the first time students have advocated for gun safety in the wake of a tragedy," the activist said. Students Demand Action had a "toolkit" page made available for students to help readily prepare dozens of school groups for Thursday’s walkout.

Some of the schools that participated were, Benson High School (Omaha, Nebraska), Camden High School (Camden, New Jersey), Charlottesville High School (Charlottesville, Virginia), Fitchburg High School (Fitchburg, Massachusetts), Francis Howell North High School (Saint Charles, Missouri), John Marshall High School (Los Angeles, California), Lamar High School (Houston, Texas), Leesville Road High School (Raleigh, North Carolina), Lewis and Clark High School (Spokane, Washington), Northport High School (Northport, New York), Oxford High School (Oxford, Michigan), San Dieguito Academy High School (Encinitas, California), Saugus High School (Santa Clarita, California), Tappan Zee High School (Orangeburg, New York), and Whitefish Bay High School (Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin).

On Tuesday evening, President Joe Biden’s initial response to the shooting was to blame the gun lobby. Politico reported that the Senate adjourned for Memorial Day recess and won’t be back until June 6, at which time Majority Leader Chuck Schumer vowed that he’d force a gun control vote.

The President used his speech on Tuesday evening, in the wake of the shooting, to advocate for and demand gun control as well.