TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Leon County Schools excused students from school to participate in Wednesday's events at the Capitol, which included a rally calling on legislators to make changes to gun laws.
The decision led to some criticism in the community.
Dozens of students poured out of school buses Wednesday morning and made their way to the Capitol. A lot of them carried signs and told WTXL they'd be here whether or not the district allowed it.
Several students from Godby, Lincoln and Chiles high schools were part of a massive rally outside the Old Capitol.
The Leon County Republican Party blasted superintendent Rocky Hanna for allowing students to miss school and to use school resources for a "political rally," but students we talked to said now is the time to be heard.
"This is a very serious issue, and it affects people in our age group obviously," said Elon Davis, a sophomore at Chiles High School. "If we can't voice our opinions now, then, in the future, when it's actually important, we're not going to do it then either."
The district says it received many phone calls from parents about whether or not their kids would be excused from class. A spokesperson notes students were also excused to attend the Donald Trump rally in 2016.
