BY KELSEY WELLS
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COLONIE — At 10 a.m., on a normal Wednesday at Shaker High School, you’ll find students in class. Patiently waiting those last 13 minutes before mid-morning, when they’ll have a chance to unwind and debrief before fourth period begins.
But on Wednesday, March 14th, those same halls, at the same time, will look very different. Students at Shaker, along with schools all over the world, will be participating in a nationwide walkout in support of the 17 victims of the Feb. 14 Parkland school shooting.
The event will run from 10 to 10:15 a.m. and is intended to show unity and solidarity against gun violence. Locally, it’s being organized by Asma Bawla, a senior at Shaker.
The movement has been steadily picking up steam since its announcement, being covered by countless news outlets, but it’s purpose has less than 100 percent support.
Zack VanAmburgh, a Shaker senior, is one student who doesn’t support the whole idea.
“Everything I’ve heard is that the walkout is to bring more awareness about gun violence and that something has to be done about it,” he said. “But I don’t feel that guns are the problem, it’s the people who have the guns and even if all guns get banned there will still be gun violence.”
Zack isn’t the only one who feels this way about gun control. Rachel Hayes, another Shaker senior and soon to be marine, had similar thoughts.
“I’m participating to honor the 17 lost lives from Parkland and to pay respects,” she said. “I don’t believe this walkout is about gun control.”
Though she is participating, her ideas are different than others. For her, it’s about the victims, to others it’s about the guns. And to some, it’s just about getting out of class.
“I am participating because I enjoy a reason to leave in the middle of school,” says Robel Solomon, a senior, speaking to the senioritis that plagues a large number of students.
When the walkout was first advertised, its purpose was stated to honor the lives of the students as well as protest gun violence. In its creation, the walkout was centered around gun control. It’s the very argument and idea behind those affected by the massacre.