Photo by Samantha Bengtson
Soledad High students form the word “Enough” (partially seen above) in support of safer schools during National Walkout Day on March 14.
SOLEDAD — Soledad High School students stood up last Wednesday morning to take a stand against school violence while remembering the 17 victims who died a month prior during the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla.
“All across America today, students, staff, faculty, elected officials are all concerned about safe schools,” said Superintendent Tim Vanoli. “Here in Soledad you are the epitome of what it means to have a safe schools rally. You come together, you’re joining hands and you’re caring for one another.”
Students met on the football field and formed the word “Enough” to show that they want safer schools. The National School Walkout, or non-walkout for Soledad High, was organized by the ASB of the high school.
“A month ago a 19-year-old male with mental issues opened fire in a high school, taking 17 lives of innocent people,” said senior Getsemani Poga. “It is for that reason that we are here today commemorating those victims by taking a stand against violence.”
Poga is part of the MESA Club and Principal’s Advisory Committee who worked with ASB on the assembly.
“After hearing all the victim’s stories, I realized that I could not be desensitized to the situation,” she said. “These teens would never be able to go to college. Their parents will never get to see their faces again.”
Poga said a student should never have to worry about feeling safe in a classroom.
“We understand that we cannot simply strip away the Second Amendment,” she said. “However, the legal purchase of firearms must be a stricter process if we want change. California is known to have the strictest arms limitation in comparison to the rest of the country.”
Poga said just because these horrific shootings are not everyday occurrences in California, it does not mean that they aren’t a problem.
“As a nation, our federal government should come together and develop a plan on how violence can stop interfering with our education,” Poga said.
She quoted a statistic that reports 142 school shootings have taken place since the Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting in 2012.
Just in 2018, from January to March 8, there have been 14 school shootings.
