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Hundreds of Austin-area students join National School Walkout Day

Austin-area students took part in a nation-wide movement April 20.

CENTRAL TEXAS — Hundreds of Austin-area students walked out of their school and made their way to the Texas State Capitol as part of National School Walkout Day Friday, April 20.

Friday's national walkout recognized the 19th anniversary of the Columbine massacre. The protest started at 10 a.m. Walkout participants held a moment of silence for 13 seconds to honor the 13 lives taken at Columbine High School in 1999. Students will also take the time to share their thoughts about school safety.

McCallum High School students in Austin walked out of class at around 10 a.m. Friday before heading to the Texas State Capitol to protest.

AISD McCallum High School students walk out of class and gather in the parking lot for a rally against gun violence & for more gun restrictions. @KVUE pic.twitter.com/KvaAjU9eRY

— Rebeca Trejo (@RebecaT_KVUE) April 20, 2018

Henry Middle School students in Leander also walked out:

Henry Middle School (Leander ISD) kids walkout. @KVUE pic.twitter.com/KEF3G3FCvr

— Cecil Habermacher (@respice) April 20, 2018

RELATED:

'Students aren't quitting': Thousands plan walkouts to protest gun violence, mark 19 years since Columbine

One of the student protesters and speakers at the Capitol was Julia Heilrayne.

She wore a white dress that listed off in writing school shootings -- such as Columbine, Sandy Hook, Stoneman Douglas High School, Virginia Tech ... the list went on.

"My dress on the top it says, 'Enough is enough,'" Heilrayne said. "On the back it says, 'Never Again.' The skirt part is every single school shooting that has resulted in at least one death."

Heilrayne said she could have added victims' names, too.

"I was originally going to write victims' names on the bottom," said Heilrayne. "But it wasn't an option because there are just so many of them and I can't write that small."

Other student speakers included Jemima Abalogu, a local activist.

"Those in power think that just because we can't vote, we can't touch them," she said. "But we're here today to show them that's not true."

Congressman Llloyd Doggett also spoke.

"This congress, despite your marches and gatherings all this year is not going to do a single significant thing about guns," said Doggett. "Short moments of silence will continue to be continued by long months of inaction until we get a brand new Congress."

A counter protester shouted "You suck!" and "It's gun control!" at him.

AISD students who participated will receive an unexcused absence for classes missed, the district said. It will be the only disciplinary action issued to students exercising their right to protest.

As for Round Rock Independent School District, the district is not encouraging a walkout, but campus principals will designate a space for those participating to gather on campus and will provide supervision, RRISD Superintendent Steve Flores said in a statement.

However, Flores said students are expected to return to class within a reasonable time and if they don't or if they leave campus, they will receive an unexcused absence and could be subject to further consequences.

"As a former history teacher, I appreciate students who want to become politically involved and make their voices heard," Flores added. "I do not want to discourage discourse on this important topic, but my goal is that we provide opportunities for that to happen in the classroom as part of the educational process, rather than taking time out of the school day."

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