Students from multiple schools around Minneapolis showed up at Gold Medal Park for the Minnesota-wide walkout and march on May 31. The “march for victims of gun violence and change” came just a week after a mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Tex., left 19 elementary students and two teachers dead. Like many past school shootings, the gunman used a legally purchased AR-15 style rifle. Texas officials stated the gunman, 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, had two AR -15 style rifles and a total of 1,657 rounds.
The march was organized and led by MN Teen Activists, a group of high school students demanding changes be made and implemented by public state and federal officials. “First we demand a statewide arbitration committee is created to address the safety of students within our schools. The committee should include a student and teacher from each independent school district. The committee’s primary goal is to develop actual steps to reduce gun violence in our schools,” said Aaliyah Murray, a junior at Fridley Senior High and founder of MN Teen Activists. Other members of the advocacy group spoke at Gold Medal Park during a press conference before the group marched to US Bank Stadium. Ezra Hudson, a senior at St Louis Park High School, added that the group wants to see “a ban of the AR-15 platform rifles…” or alternatively demands that there should be licensed training to own such weapons.
Both students and adults repeatedly voiced their fears and calls for action on the gun violence within the country, including stricter gun laws, training to own firearms and raising the age to purchase weapons. Despite these calls for change, there were no demands or opinions from students and adults to ban all guns or eliminate the second amendment. “We want common sense laws,” exclaimed Jean Choi, who was with her child, who attends Seward Montessori.
Efrem Lilly, a student at FAIR Downtown High School, when asked about how safe he feels at school, replied, “Internally, I feel safe but externally, anything can happen. It’s a crazy world out there … not worrying about dying would be great.”
Below in order: Students from Northeast Middle School marched down Hayes Street on their way to protest at Gold Medal Park. (Photo by Cynthia Sowden)
What can adults do? “Support their kids and help them learn about what’s happening and help them make a change because they’re the new generation.” Tillie Johnson, Susan B. Anthony school, holding “I should be in school” sign.
Jean Choi (in hat), parent of a student at Seward Montessori, and Allison Hribar (with child on shoulders), parent of a student at Las Estrellas. “We’re here to protect our kids,” said Hribar. (Photos by Mike Madison)