Students across Yuma County walk out of class to show solidarity

Waves of students across the nation, including here in Yuma County, walked out of their classrooms to show support for gun violence victims and to demand change.

They stayed outside for 17 minutes – one minute for each victim in last month’s school shooting in Parkland, Florida.

Students at Cibola, Kofa, and San Luis high schools walked out promptly at 10 a.m. – many of them organizing the demonstration in advance with school administration.

During the demonstrations, students called on each other to speak up and use their voices for change.

“I was very motivated, it just goes to show that youth do care and that we’re not here playing games, that we do have a voice and we do want change,” Joshua Garay, Kofa Junior, said.

“We can vote and encourage others to vote others as well… I hope change has happened, but it starts with the youth,” Alexa Lardin, Cibola student, said while giving a speech in front of her peers.

“We have a voice, we are not just apathetic teenagers… that we are interested in making our not only our schools but our nation, cities a better place for not just us but for those to come,” Ralph Ferguson, Kofa Senior, added.

At Cibola, Principal Tim Brienza joined his students on the football field. Allowing students to take charge in their planned demonstration. For him, it was a great learning experience for all.

“It’s very important for them to show their voice in a very peaceful way, we try to educate them to do it peacefully so that’s why we allowed it,” Brienza added.

Cibola students then took a moment of silence for the remaining minute out of the 17 minutes.

At Kofa, many students wore the color orange. They said that the color is symbolic for gun violence.

Student organizers are hoping that these movements will help move along conversations that will help build a better future.

“It made me feel like I have changed this school a little bit better,” Yesenia Montes, Kofa Senior, said.

“I’m really proud that we got conversation going, we got students thinking and we got them to be respectful… I’m very honored we could do this at our school,” Alexa Alvarez, San Luis High School student, said.

While many students may not be able to vote yet, they telling those who doubt the movement that it’s a step in the right direction.

“We are telling legislature, our representatives that we vote, we want something to be done about this,” said Ferguson.

We’re told that Yuma High and Yuma Catholic also participated in the movement.

School officials estimate that around 4,000 students participated countywide.