Local students plan a walkout to stand up against gun violence in schools
MILWAUKEE, Wis. (CBS 58)-- After two school shootings this week and numerous threats made in area schools, students are taking it upon themselves to fight gun violence in schools. A group of teens met in Milwaukee over coffee to come up with a plan to rally their student body next week.
Students say they’re fed up, so on Wednesday, Dec. 4, students from local schools came together to plan a walkout to stand up for their safety.
The recent school shootings and threats have caused anxiety for some students, and they say it’s taking away from their learning.
”We’re supposed to learn the wonders of reading, literature, math and science, you’re not supposed to be worrying about am I going to turn this corner and is someone going to shoot my best friend in the head?” said Michael Orlowski, a senior at Wauwatosa West High School.
”You never know what’s going to happen,” said Riyan Lucas, a sophomore at Escuela Verde High School. “These people that you see on the news, they never saw it coming, and it’s really sad to see.”
The walkout would include nearly 10 schools in the area including some in Milwaukee, Wauwatosa, Shorewood, Whitefish Bay and more.
Their goal is to get the attention of lawmakers.
”Regardless of our zip codes, regardless of who our administrators are, regardless of any of that, we’re here to show our state legislators and our State Senate that we’re here and we’re united and we’re ready for change,” adds Orlowski.
Students want lawmakers to prioritize school safety by changing gun laws to include universal background checks and extreme risk protection orders.
Orlowski says mental health also plays an important role in student well-being.
”They’re looking for exits rather than focusing on class and that’s not how we should be operating as student,” said Tyler Kelly, a senior at Franklin High School. “I think it’s a shame that our government has failed to pass policies to protect kids, to protect families and to protect communities.”
”I’m really hoping that this will get them to care at least a little bit more than they do now,” adds Lucas.
The walkout is planned for Friday, Dec. 13. CBS 58 will continue to follow this story.