The students here at Citrus College should follow the lead of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School students and countless other young Americans across the country who promote changing gun policy,exercising their first amendment rights.
Little has been done on campus to address the walkout. Academic Senate sent an email. One question was brought to the Board of Trustees about what was going to be done leading up to the one-month anniversary of the Florida high school shooting that left 17 dead.
Fewer than 50 Citrus College students participated on the March14 walkout, but that doesn’t come close to the thousands of students all around the U.S. who walked out to protest gun violence.
On a local level, school systems around Citrus College organized events, rallies and protests to honor the students from Parkland, Florida and others affected by gun violence.
Chaffey College, Mount San Antonio College, Pasadena City College and Pierce College are nearby colleges that — with cooperation from their school — had an organized event and designated meeting area for the walkout.
Mt. SAC’s walkout was organized by one of their history professors and a number of other faculty members. Students, faculty and staff who
participated went to a designated meeting area near their Free Speech zone, according to the school’s student publication SAC.Media.
Even our nearby high school students had a large number of participants during the March 14 #NationalWalkOut. Glendora, Claremont, Covina and Duarte high schools flexed their right to free speech and protest.
On a much wider scale, students from all over Colorado, Missouri, New York, the District of Columbia and Florida left class to speak and protest those in power who have been silent on gun reform.
This country was born out of a spirit of protest and standing up to officials in high places. Don’t forget one of the most notable protests during the American Revolution —the Boston Tea Party of 1773.
Activism and protests led by the colonists paved the way for the Bill of Rights. These first 10 amendments ofthe U.S. Constitution form the basis of our most valuable liberties today.
Protesting is an American tradition. It is the way to making a change when the powers that be aren’t working. Who better to lead these protests than the young generation and the
oppressed? American history is full with protests, from labor strikes to women’s suffrage to the civil rights movement and protests against the Vietnam War. A new generation, the ones that care to make a difference, are making their voice heard through social media.
Social media has been a strong outlet for young Americans to express their concerns with the unchanged policies on school safety and gun regulations. Hashtags like #NeverAgain, #Enough and #March4OurLives have circulated all over social media as the growing number of Americans make their concerns known that gun reform is a must.
In addition to voting, the best way we can make policy change happen is to exercise and promote activism. You may feel like you are only one student whose voice alone makes little difference. But when you add your voice to the thousands of students across the country raising their voice, you can become part of a change that even the most powerful politicians can’t ignore.
The next national events for gun reform will be The March for Our Lives on March 24 and the April 20 National High School Walkout, which commemorates the 19th anniversary of the Columbine shooting.
Do not take your right to free speech and assembly for granted. Exercise your rights and make desired changes happen. Don’t shy away from our American tradition of protest.
Take a stand for what you believe in because if you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything.
