This article was originally published in The Notebook. In August 2020, The Notebook became Chalkbeat Philadelphia.
On Wednesday, students around the country will walk out of their schools to demand that lawmakers do more to protect the nation from gun violence. The National School Walkout will start at 10 a.m. and last 17 minutes — one minute for each person gunned down at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, on Feb. 14. Each day leading up to the walkout, WHYY will post thoughts about school safety from students, parents, and educators in the region.
As senior Tamir Harper gathered one recent morning with a few of his classmates from Science Leadership Academy in Center City to talk about how to prevent more school shootings, it happened again.
“Oh my God!” Harper said, reading a news alert on his smartphone. “Two shot at Central Michigan University! Suspect at large. Breaking now!”
After a pause and a collective head shake, their conversation resumed, the latest shooting just another addition to an ever-growing list that no school should be on.