March 14th marks one month since the Parkland school shooting which left 17 people dead. On that day, students across the country are organizing a National School Walkout to honor those victims and protest gun violence and advocate for stricter gun control.
Since the Parkland school shooting, students have protested on Capital Hill and at the White House. And there have been protests on campus like the walkout at McLean High School on March 1, when about 100 students walked out of school to the football field with signs and messages.
But next Wednesday, walkouts could be widespread. And schools are trying to get out in front with guidelines.
Fairfax County Public Schools Board Chair Jane Strauss says speakers advocating a political viewpoint are not allowed in school during school hours.
"Because this is during the school day and these are public schools and we are spending taxpayers dollars to run a public school. We have to be careful or how political activities are organized during the school day...It is balancing the rights of students to speak their mind, at the same time keeping everybody safe. And also balancing the rights of students who've chosen not to speak their mind," said Strauss.
Student organizers of the McLean walkout on March 1st were frustrated that school administrators would not allow speakers at their event, or the media in to cover it.
"There were, unfortunately, a lot of obstacles placed in the way by our administration," said McLean walkout organizer Kimya Shirazi. She said a victim of gun violence who came to speak was escorted off campus.
For March 14, Sherazi and Neha Rana are still planning to have speakers, but they are taking their walkout and event to nearby Lewinsville Park. They are in the process of getting the permit approved by Fairfax County Park Authority. The students are reaching out to other schools and expecting up to 800 people, including parents to attend.
"While we are going to honor the victims of Parkland, we also know gun violence happens to others, in their homes and communities...So we're going to have a lot of organizations spread out and people can go and interact with those organizations and find ways to get involved," said Rana.
But, students could get in trouble for leaving school.
"They cannot leave school grounds. If they leave school grounds, we will have to have some, resolve. Disciplinary action, because parents do expect the children to stay there," Strauss said.
Strauss also said the protesting students cannot infringe upon other planned school activities, such as teaching.
The Nationwide School Walkout is to start at 10 am on Wednesday, March 14 and the first 17 minutes is to be a dedicated to the 17 victims of the Margery Stoneman Douglass shooting.
Many will wear orange-- the chosen color for gun control.
