It’s not just a high school movement.
Hundreds of UW-Madison students and community members gathered Wednesday at noon on Library Mall to get the attention of legislators and advocate for tighter gun laws as part of National Walkout Day.
What started as four students chanting “Enough is enough” and “The NRA has got to go” quickly grew into a crowd of about 500 people. Some students — many of whom left their classes to participate in the movement — shared stories about how gun violence had negatively impacted their lives.
Students are crowding Library Mall as walkout organizers begin to give speeches pic.twitter.com/H6vrdfsIfp
— Lawrence Andrea (@LAndrea_21) March 14, 2018
Jack Larsen, a UW-Madison freshman who helped organize the walkout, said although he has only been at the university for a few months, he has already experienced two shooter drills. Larsen referenced a November incident in which a man with a gun was reported on Bascom Hill.
Although the report was later deemed "erroneous,” Larsen said his dorm went into lockdown and many of his friends in the area at the time were frightened. He said this “shook” him..
“No one should have to be afraid to go home or to walk past their bank or to pick up groceries from the corner store,” Larsen said. “It is time to speak out. It is time to raise our voices and say ‘enough is enough.’ It is time to raise our voices and say ‘never again.’”
Larsen said these public demonstrations are necessary to show politicians and others in power that student voices “will be heard no matter what.”
“It is time to say to our politicians, to our community leaders, to anyone in power: We are done staying quiet. You will listen to us, and you will enact change,” he said.
Following student testimony, the group walked up State Street to join thousands of Madison Metropolitan School District students at the steps of the Wisconsin State Capitol.
The scene at the Wisconsin State Capitol on #NationalWalkoutDay pic.twitter.com/QgvhjCyKqh
— Lawrence Andrea (@LAndrea_21) March 14, 2018
UW-Madison sophomore Olivia Schaefer said she was marching because “we need change.” Schaefer attended Pewaukee High School, which canceled classes today after receiving a threat Tuesday night from a student, who has since been arrested.
“My high school was threatened today. My little sister was threatened today. It needs to stop,” Schaefer said.
In addition to chanting anti-NRA slogans, some protest participants took the time to encourage community members to vote in the midterm and next presidential elections.
UW-Madison junior Laurel Noack handed out pamphlets highlighting upcoming local and statewide elections.
“Enough is enough,” she said. “It is time to get some common-sense gun reform on the books.”
