Students and faculty from more than 2,000 schools across the United States will walk out in protest of gun violence today, Friday, April 20, the nineteenth anniversary of the Columbine shooting. Alice Volfson ’19 organized Choate’s own walkout, which will occur at 10:00 a.m. this morning. Volfson also planned Choate’s participation in the March for Our Lives protest last month, in New York City.
The goal of the walkout is to pressure U.S. representatives to pass gun-reform regulations. These regulations include legislation to strengthen background checks, allow family members to request the issuance of a gun-violence prevention warrant for those they fear may pose a danger to themselves or others, ban bump stocks, and raise the minimum age to buy an assault rifle from 18 to 21.
The walk-out will serve as a unique opportunity for the community to unite as one and also has the potential to garner outside attention. “One thing we hope to achieve at the walkout is to have students and faculty members share speeches, poems, and memories, and personal experience with gun violence and school safety,” said Volfson. She explained that the Choate walk-out is trying to get national media coverage so that “people outside the Choate Rosemary Hall community know that we care about this issue.”
In addition to the walkout, Volfson will be setting up a table in the Dining Hall in the coming weeks where students can write letters to state representatives. Volfson summarized her goals, “Instead of just staying here in Connecticut, we’re expanding nationally.” Volfson will also be helping students preregister to vote.
Volfson spoke of her initial hesitation in planning the walk-out. It was controversial, and she questioned whether people would be motivated to participate at all. However, she decided to go through with it based on the community’s desires. “People kept asking me, ‘Are you planning the walkout?’ People wanted it to happen. They wanted something to happen around campus,” said Volfson. She explained that many students and faculty shared a similar mindset: “The march happened, but what now? What can we do to continue the conversation about school safety and gun control on campus?”
Some do, however, question the potential impact of the event. “I don’t know that I am going to participate. I don’t really see what it accomplishes. It’s one of those things where people are trying to make a point with activism, but I don’t know that it’s necessarily sending a strong message to anyone,” said Sam Brown ’20. “Do I think it’s a bad idea? No. But do I feel like I’m really making a big difference by doing it? No.”
Volfson ’19 continued to emphasize the significance of the walk-out: “For me personally, I think school safety is something that everyone should be concerned with, not just liberals or Republicans. I think it’s non-partisan issue.”
She explained why those less involved in the movement would feel the need to participate: “I think it’s a good way to get the community involved, especially those who didn’t have the chance to attend the march, but still want to do something important to make a change.”
Mr. James Stanley, Dean of Students, also met with Volfson to settle the many details of the walk-out. After their meeting, Volfson said, “Approval has been given directly from the school, so no punishments will be given to students who choose to participate in the walkout.” The walkout will be taking place at 10:00 a.m. on Friday in the Seymour St. John Chapel. At the walkout, Connecticut State Representative William Tong will be speaking. In addition, all students were invited to speak if they wanted to, making sure anyone who felt that they had something to share were given the opportunity to do so.
