(CNN) - On the anniversary of the Columbine High School massacre, thousands of students held a walkout to honor victims of gun violence and to push lawmakers to take action to prevent future mass killings.
It came a little over two months after the deadly shooting in Parkland, FL, which sparked a national debate over gun control reform.
From Texas to Florida to California, students spoke out.
“We're taking action, we're taking to the streets,” said Arielle Geisman, the 16-year-old co-founder of NYC Says Enough. “Most of us can't even vote yet, but we're working extremely hard to make sure that no one has to suffer the way that people have.”
Marking the 19th anniversary of the Columbine shooting, students walked out of classrooms in a display of resolve.
They have called for a ban on assault weapons, high capacity magazine and bumpstocks, as well as universal background checks and other gun buying restrictions.
“We're here to tell Congress that we want something done,” said another student associated with NYC Says Enough.
“Make it more difficult to buy guns. Right now, I'm 18, I live right across the street from Walmart and I can go buy a gun,” said a student at one of the rallies. “And I don't think that's okay.”
Students, many of them in orange to represent the movement, marched out at 10 a.m. and observed a 13-second moment of silence to remember those killed at Columbine.
This is the second national school walkout in the two months following the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school that left 17 dead.
“The shooting in Parkland really inspired me to make a change,” said a student. “My sister lives near there. She's a teacher at a school nearby. And I fear for not only students' lives but teachers' lives as well.”
A dark cloud was cast over the early morning protests as a student was injured in another school shooting in central Florida, moments before the walkouts were set to begin.
That student was injured but is said to be “doing fine” according to the local sheriff.
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