VALDOSTA, Ga. (WALB)- Students joined in on the walkout in Valdosta in support of Parkland.
"It's not about us taking your guns away, but it's about the lives that your guns are taking away," said Jaylen Smith, an 11th grader at Valdosta High School.
One name followed by another rang out through the microphone with silence lingering in between. Names belonging to those who fell victim to the deadly mass shooting at Parkland High School in South Florida where 17 lives in total were claimed.
"Schools are suppose to be a safe place for our students and a safe place for our teachers, faculty and staff," said Smith.
It was these words from Valdosta High School students that pushed Wednesday's message as they observed National School Walkout Day to take a stand for gun control.
"Adults always say that children should be more involved in their country and politics, so here we are trying to take a stand and help those around us," said Raven Ford, an 11th grader at Valdosta High.
Students aren't wanting to do away with guns completely, but they would like the process to obtain a gun to be a lot more strenuous.
"People want their guns so bad, you know, second amendment, what's more important? A life or a gun," said Nyanda Walker-Potts, an 11th grader at Valdosta High.
Students agree on one thing if nothing else, and that the stand must start with them.
"We know what we're doing, contrary to some who believe that we should sit down, be quiet and sit pretty, but we're not going to," said Ford. "Because we are the voices of the future, we are what's going to drive this world."
