Falmouth Students to Participate in School Walkout

FALMOUTH – Students at Falmouth High School and across Cape Cod will join in a nationwide effort next month to protest what they say it inaction by lawmakers to prevent gun violence at learning institutions.

Students, teachers and administrators will participate in a National School Walkout on March 14 at 10 a.m. in Falmouth.

Senior Dan Gesson said students and other citizens across the country who advocate for gun reform had been feeling helpless because nothing was being done in the wake of mass shootings.

“When the Parkland students got involved and started their activism, their protests and their demands to their representatives it really inspired students across the Cape and in Falmouth, especially, to get involved,” Gesson said.

The protests are in response to the latest mass school shooting on February 14 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. A former student at the school, Nikolas Cruz, is accused of killing 17 people with an AR-15 assault rifle.

The #Enough Walkout will start right after third period as students will leave the school and rally in the front plaza. The event will coincide with similar walkouts during the day at other high schools and colleges and universities across the nation.

“Hopefully, we can send a message to our representatives that there is a large population, maybe not old enough to vote, but we are definitely old enough to affected by gun violence and we want to get our message heard,” Gesson said.

Specific details for the event have not been completed, but Gesson said they will be finalized shortly after students return from February vacation and discuss plans with administrators.

“We are looking to definitely engage students, demonstrate and have our point of view heard,” Gesson said.

Gesson said lockdown drills are not the same as they used to be.

“It used to be it was 15 minutes without class and nobody is really too concerned about it,” he said. “But now you never know if it could be the real thing and that is definitely not an enjoyable feeling to have.”

Gesson said they hope to have the community involved.

“If it is possible we would like to have community members show their support,” he said.