“Silence the violence, increase the peace.”

These words were chanted at 3 p.m. by hundreds of marching students in a walkout for gun law reform today. As the clock struck the hour, kids began to pour out from the science building and all areas around, ready to march.

After the recent Florida school shooting, leaving 17 dead, many walked to recognize them and the need for change. Junior Emma Carl says that the marches aren’t only for the victims as of recent.

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Deana Trautz

“We aren’t just doing this for Florida, we are doing it for all of the students and teachers who lost their lives in school shootings around the nation,” Carl said. “I thought it was important that we show our love and support of the families who lost so much because guns ended up in the wrong hands.”

Sophomore Jennifer Redd says how she is personally sick of students around the country having to be afraid to come to school- this is part of the reason why she walked today.

“[I walked] to make a statement saying we have had enough of fellow students being afraid to go to school,” Redd said.

Some may think that a few hundred students in a small town such as Cedar Park can’t make a difference with one walk out. Junior Raeli Baker says that it is vital that kids show their anger towards injustice.

“It is important to show staff and officials that we are not taking it lightly when it comes to the death of students,” Baker said. “To show the impact of assault rifles.”

The walkout led students from the courtyard around the perimeter of the school once and then students were told by leaders of the march, including freshman Mitchell Blair, to silently walk back to class in honor of the Florida shooting victims.  Though there is no doubt that some may have walked purely for an excuse to leave class, that did not hinder those students who came in passion. Sophomore Sophia Earl says that she thinks it is a shame that some make fun of the situation.

“I believe that if you’re walking, you should walk for a reason,” Earl said. “The walk was a statement, it was for a purpose. It really does not make sense why you would leave to either pester, make fun, or just plain out leave.”

Earl says that despite these kids, she is happy that it took place.

“Just to see people walk out and not return to the fight, is the exact opposite of what we are fighting for in the first place,” Earl said. “It was so purposeful to see so many people come to it, chanting and protesting for what we believe in.”