Students across the country marched as part of National Walkout Day Wednesday to honor the 17 students who were murdered in the school shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida last month.
Beginning at 10 a.m. local time, students left their classrooms and headed to the streets to peacefully call for stronger gun control. Other goals of the protests were to ban assault weapons, require universal background checks before gun sales and pass a gun violence restraining order law that would allow courts to disarm people who display warning signs of violent behavior.
There’s a “sea of people everywhere. You can barely see the ground,” Stoneman Douglas student Sam Zeif told CNN. “It really shows us we’re not alone.”
As students marched in demonstrations across the country, folks on Twitter took notice.
“Proud of all of you! Never give up! You are THE change!” wrote Miley Cyrus.
“The young people of this generation give me so much hope,” said Chris Evans.
Other vows of support came from Kerry Washington, Allison Janey, Andy Richter and more.
Of course, not all of the blue checkmark crowd supported the march. Conservative celebrities and media personalities were relatively silent on Twitter during the protests, but those that spoke out opposed them.
“[W]e sure need to secure our schools,” said Ted Nugent, but “a new gunlaw will be counterproductive.”
TV personality Liz Wheeler complained that the marches are about “banning guns,” adding that “Anybody who tells conservative students that refusing to walkout for 17 minutes means you don’t care about the 17 victims of Parkland… is lying.”
Here’s what some of the folks are saying:
Proud of all of you! Never give up! You are THE change!
So amazing to see young people take back their power and USE it! #NationalWalkoutDay pic.twitter.com/nuUDdqkpkD
— Miley Cyrus (@MileyCyrus) March 14, 2018
https://twitter.com/ChrisEvans/status/973944438643937280
https://twitter.com/ava/status/973974628048818181
We're watching, Justin! 👏👏👏👏 https://t.co/wXRYfNBofW
— Samantha Bee (@realsambee) March 14, 2018
Dear Students,
I stand with you. I support you. #NationalWalkoutDay— kerry washington (@kerrywashington) March 14, 2018
This photo is everything.#NationalWalkoutDay pic.twitter.com/rWX1CfT1Ht
— Scott Dworkin (@funder) March 14, 2018
So inspired by all the young people there today. 🧡 #NationalWalkoutDay #enough #walkout pic.twitter.com/9UUMaywZQl
— Allison Janney (@AllisonBJanney) March 14, 2018
So proud of this next generation… #bydhttmwfi#NationalWalkoutDay
— LeVar Burton (@levarburton) March 14, 2018
I love how active and strong our young people are today. Thanks for having the courage to speak up and stand together. No more gun violence. Walking with you in spirit. #NationalWalkoutDay
— Meghan Klingenberg (@meghankling) March 14, 2018
One month later and students continue to say never again, to stand up, to speak out. Never too young to make a difference. #NationalWalkOutDay #StudentsStandUp pic.twitter.com/gJKdazr6j8
— Maria Shriver (@mariashriver) March 14, 2018
The youth outnumber and outsoul you @GOP & @NRA. #NationalWalkoutDay
— Kristen Schaal (@kristenschaaled) March 14, 2018
Yeah! Virginia represent!!! #NationalWalkoutDay https://t.co/F10DwALxVR
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) March 14, 2018
I am so proud, I stand with every student today. #NationalWalkoutDay ✊🏽✊🏽✊🏽
— Zendaya (@Zendaya) March 14, 2018
If more guns make us safer, why aren't we safe? #NationalWalkoutDay
— Andy Richter (@AndyRichter) March 14, 2018
The driver next to me & I both tooted our horns in support, and as we smiled at each other I registered what it was they were chanting: “Less Guns. More Kids.”
— Andy Richter (@AndyRichter) March 14, 2018
They’re not out there being political, they’re out there because they’re afraid of getting shot to death. In their schools and elsewhere.
It didn’t used to be like this. Kids weren’t so scared when there weren’t so many guns. It’s that simple.
They deserve better from us.
— Andy Richter (@AndyRichter) March 14, 2018
Your voice is powerful and you’re never too young to make a statement. Truly moved by the students nationwide who participated in #NationalWalkoutDay – we hear you.
— Ryan Seacrest (@RyanSeacrest) March 14, 2018
Anybody who tells conservative students that refusing to walkout for 17 minutes means you don't care about the 17 victims of Parkland… is lying.
The walkout is not about solutions. It's about banning guns. #NationalWalkoutDay
— Liz Wheeler (@Liz_Wheeler) March 14, 2018
Average number of deaths in the U.S. per day:
Abortions: 1,778+
Medical errors: 685
Accidents: 401
Opioids: 115
Drunk driving: 28
Underage drinking: 11
Teenage texting-while-driving: 8
All Rifles: 1#NationalWalkoutDay— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) March 14, 2018
we sure need to secure our schools and save our children but a new gunlaw will be counterproductive
— Ted Nugent (@TedNugent) March 14, 2018