“We shouldn’t have to be here,” Ryan Morrow, a Richland student and one of the organizers of the Student Walkout, said as he began his speech on April 3 at the free speech area on campus.
“But we are. We are here because on Feb. 14 a human being shot and killed 17 other human beings with a weapon he should not have had access to.”
The Student Walkout started at noon with a moment of silence in honor of all the victims of gun violence in the U.S., followed by speeches by the two organizers. The main focus was to offer students the opportunity to discuss the issue of gun violence with other students and encourage them to be part of the movement.
“We held a peaceful protest to talk about gun violence that has been happening in the United States and what we can do about it. Namely common-sense gun legislation and voting,” said Victoria Patterson, another of the Walkout organizers.
John Stallin shares his thoughts with the participants at the Student Walkout on April.3.
Later, other students had the opportunity to speak up, share their opinions and personal stories.
“A lot of people brought their own personal stories because there are more people than you would realize [who have experienced gun violence]. You can’t see by looking at somebody’s face whether they have been a victim of gun violence or [if] they know someone who has been a victim of gun violence,” Morrow said.
The event was inspired by a discussion about gun violence during an Honors English class taught by Scott Branks del Llano, Ph.D., which resulted in the student demonstration.
“The students watched the marches, the national marches and the march that went down in Dallas and they wanted to do something here at Richland in honor of those marches and actually do something that meant something here,” said Branks del Llano.
According to Branks del Llano, his students demonstrated an interest in continuing the conversation about gun violence and finding functional solutions that can bring change.
“They are looking at voting power, looking how their voices can be more than just voices, but how they can impact legislation, [to bring about] local and national change.”
Branks del Llano said the involvement of the young generation is “the hope of hopes.”
“The fact that it’s a youth movement and that they are not only coming out and being so articulate and strong about what they are saying. They are taking and creating action,” he said.
The idea of the Walkout was sudden and had the whole class involved.
“The whole class got on board and somehow it became a thing,” said Patterson.
The event was intentionally not advertised much.
“We wanted it to be a very student-based thing. We did go around on our way here to a few classrooms to try to rally people to come out here. And I think that worked pretty well.”
The event happened at the “Free Speech” area on campus designated for students.
The freedom of speech and expression is outlined in the United States Constitution. According to an official document from Richland College, all events must be held outdoors, and are to be scheduled and approved through the Office of Student Programs and Resources prior to the event.
The walkout lasted about an hour. Dozens of Richland students and staff participated by speaking and watching from the ground, the balcony, or from the bridge. For Morrow, Patterson and Branks del Llano, the turnout was great and the event a success.
“Overall, I think today was a success not only for the students of Richland but a success for our democracy because we expressed our right of free of speech and we expressed our right to get out here to protest,” Morrow said.
