Students hold walkouts to protest gun violence

ORANGE CITY, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - Just before noon Wednesday, dozens of University High School students in Orange City walked out the back of the school to protest gun violence in the wake of last week's deadly school shooting in South Florida.  Guarded by teachers and deputies who surrounded the school property, they gathered to rally.

"It was basically a protest against gun violence, not gun rights and stuff like that," said student Amber Baum. 

Several students said they wish they could do more and many told FOX 35 that they have felt unsafe at school at one time or another in recent years, prompted by unfounded threats of bombs and active shooters. 

"The problem is, we get threats, cops show up one day, and then everybody forgets about it," said student Raelyn Cusumano. 

These students in Volusia County said they will be watching other students who have gathered in Tallahassee from around the state as they present their concerns and demands to lawmakers.

Walkouts happened not just in Florida, but across the U.S. on Wednesday.  Demonstrations took place at schools from Maine to Arizona. Some lasted 17 minutes in honor of the 17 people killed one week earlier at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.
 
Students at many of the protests called for stronger gun control and said they're taking action to protect schools because Congress hasn't.
 
Hundreds of students in Maryland left class to rally outside the U.S. Capitol, some carrying signs saying "Make Our Schools Safer."
 
Students at Simon Kenton High School near Cincinnati marched around their school chanting "Never again."
 
More walkouts are already being planned for March 14, a month after the Florida shooting.

Some information taken from the Associated Press.