BELLEFONTAINE NEIGHBORS, Mo. – Students at Riverview Gardens High School walked out of class Tuesday to peacefully protest gun violence.
About 100 students walked out of class and marched down Bellefontaine Road carrying signs and calling for an end to gun violence. The demonstration was in response to the Florida High School shooting that left 17 dead.
Administrators were aware of the walkout before it happened and worked with organizers on a plan. Students were told they would not be punished if they stayed on campus.
Some parents even showed up to show support. Students also thanked police officers for keeping them safe.
Read the full statement from the Riverview Gardens School District below:
Today, Riverview Gardens High School scholars, like many scholars across the country, walked out of class in peaceful protest of the issues related to gun violence. This walk-out was not a district-sponsored event, but district administrators worked with student leaders to ensure that the walk-out was conducted safely.
Scholars were notified, in advance of the walk-out, that they would not face disciplinary consequences if they stayed on campus and returned to class within a reasonable period of time. Students were also notified that if they chose to leave campus during the school day, they would, be consistent with Board policy, face disciplinary consequences.
The district is currently reviewing circumstances related to scholars to determine whether discipline is appropriate, and will not provide individually identifiable information about students.
The Riverview Gardens School District respects the rights of students to engage in speech activities, and appreciates that majority of students who participated in today's events remained on campus and returned to class peacefully.
