Students to march for gun law reform, protest campus shootings

Students to march for gun law reform, protest campus shootings

In response to the recent mass shooting at a high school in Parkland, Florida, a march in downtown Chico has been planned for next week on March 14.

Students from Chico High School, Inspire School of Arts & Sciences, and Chico State plan to walk out of their classrooms and march from their campuses into downtown Chico. The goal is to protest gun violence on campuses and to stand in solidarity with survivors of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

Marchers will begin walking out at 10 a.m. to arrive downtown at the City Plaza at 11:30 a.m., according to an emailed release from the Chico Walkout and March Committee.

Until 3 p.m., students, faculty, and community members will be gathering in the Plaza to protest sales of semi-automatic and automatic firearms to citizens, according to the release. They will also call for more pre-sale license renewal screenings, gun-free campuses, and an end to campaign funding from special interest groups like the NRA.

Speeches, dance performances, food and other events are planned during this event, open to all ages. In the release, the committee encouraged teachers to take 17 moments of silence for the lives lost in Florida during the event,

This event is youth organized, but the Committee is available for more information at [email protected]. They will be offering parking spaces and places to table at the event.

Natalie Hanson can be reached at [email protected] or @NatalieH_Orion on Twitter.