Wednesday, March 14 marks one month since a teenager opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, killing 17 students and adults. On that same day, high school and college students all across the country will walk out of school to honor the victims.
Women's March Youth EMPOWER organized the walkout, which will start at 10 a.m. and last for 17 minutes -- one minute for each victim.
The website lists almost 3,000 walkouts and more than 20 in West Michigan. WZZM 13 wanted to verify if all of the local schools listed on the website are actually having the students walk out of school. We reached out to superintendents and school representatives:
- Kenowa Hills High School & Middle School
- Undecided on if the walkouts will be inside or out
- Middle School students need permission
- Northview High School
- Indoor, student-led event
- Forest Hills Public Schools
- Middle and High Schools will walk outside
- East Grand Rapids High School and Middle School
- District "supportive" of students participating, not disclosing details
- Grand Rapids Christian High School and Middle School
- Students can participate in indoor prayer sessions
- Godwin Heights High School
- Indoor event
- Grandville High School
- Indoor event
- Grand River Preparatory High School
- Indoor event
- Kentwood Public Schools
- East Kentwood High School students will walk outside
- K-8 students will have discussion and indoor event
- Caledonia High School
- Respecting students' constitutional rights
- Instruction will continue
- Byron Center High School
- Unconfirmed plans
- Whitehall High School
- Unconfirmed plans
- North Muskegon Public Schools
- High school will walk outside
- One-hour peace rally and letter writing campaign to follow
- Muskegon Area Career Tech Center
- Unconfirmed plans
- Mattawan High School
- Already had memorial event in February
- No walkout planned
- Kalamazoo Public Schools
- High school and middle school students will walk outside
- Portage Public Schools
- Central and Northern High Schools will walk outside
Many schools that are having indoor events said they will not stop students that walk out, but the participants will be marked as absent. Our conclusion: FALSE. Not all schools on the list will want students walking out.
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