Students walk out of class to protest gun violence

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Natalie Hanson

Students make their way from the City Plaza to the Trinity United Methodist Church.

Students from all over Butte County left their campuses for the national Walkout March against gun violence in downtown Chico Wednesday morning.

Students from nearby schools Chico High School, Inspire School of Arts and Sciences, Bidwell Junior High, Butte College and other campuses joined Chico State students in the march, which first began on Chico State campus. This protest joined many others across the country, with students protesting recent shootings and calling for action against school shootings.

Chico State students first marched around campus starting at 10 a.m., then arrived first in the downtown plaza. Chico High School and other schools’ students soon joined, and all protestors then marched to Trinity United Methodist Church.

Students shouted, “Hey-hey, ho-ho, the NRA has got to go,” “End gun violence, no more silence” and “Not one more.”

The church provided a hall for the students to use due to weather conditions. Rain Scher Chico community activist spoke before the floor was open to students from Chico High and Inspire to share their feelings and statements.

“We are today. And we will decide tomorrow,” said Kailyn Erb, who had led the march from Chico State.

The Inspire dance team even performed an interpretative, provocative dance choreographed to a spoken word piece, also protesting gun violence.

After most students left by noon to return to their campuses, more members of the community, including some candidates running for office in the district, gave statements in the hall.

 

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