Hundreds of students from across Nassau County are planning to take part in Wednesday’s planned National School Walkout, according to student activists and educators.
The Herald has received reports that walkouts are to take place at high schools from Valley Stream to Long Beach, Oceanside, Bellmore-Merrick, Glen Head and Oyster Bay.
The globally coordinated event will at once be a memorial to the 17 students and teachers gunned down at Marjory Stoneman High School in Parkland, Fla., a month ago and a demonstration to seek stricter gun controls. The group Women’s March Youth Empower is acting as the central organizer of the event, which is to take place not only in the United States, but also at schools in Europe and Australia.
In Oceanside, students have said they plan to walk onto the high school's football field and read aloud over the loudspeaker the names of the 17 students and teachers killed in last month's shooting.
Nassau police have said security is expected to be stepped up at high schools across the county.
On its website, Women’s March Youth Empower states that the walkout came about because of “Congress’ inaction to do more than tweet thoughts and prayers in response to the gun violence plaguing our schools and neighborhoods.”
“We need action,” the site states. “Students and allies are organizing the national school walkout to demand Congress pass legislation to keep us safe from gun violence at our schools, on our streets and in our homes and places of worship.”
Erik Hawkins contributed to this story.