On Ash Wednesday, February 14, 2018, a mass shooting claimed the lives of 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL. An additional 17 people were wounded, making the Parkland Shooting one of the world’s most deadly school massacres. As with many such incidences, it has revived political debates surrounding gun control and school safety. However, this shooting in particular has resulted in significant political action led by Marjory Stoneman Douglas students themselves—two of the most outspoken students being Emma González and David Hogg, among the five MSD students featured on a recent cover of TIME magazine.
This event has also prompted many school leaders to sign onto open letters and editorials, calling for stronger gun laws and other measures that they believe would prevent such events. NAES co-signed a letter with the National Association of Independent Schools—read that here. Many Episcopal school heads are among those who signed an open letter to President Trump, included in the February 25 edition of the New York Times. Originally only comprising school heads in the state of New York, the list of signatories now extends nationwide. Regionally, Episcopal school heads joined their independent school colleagues to sign onto open letters, published in the Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, and Atlanta Journal Constitution. The Eight Schools Association, which includes St. Paul’s School of Concord, NH, also released a statement.
As a result of the shooting, other Episcopal leaders have issued statements, including the Presiding Bishop, the House of Bishops, and the Bishop of Southeast Florida.
The student-driven response has
culminated in two key events—the National School Walkout on March 14,
one month after the shooting, and the “March for Our Lives” on March 24
in Washington, D.C. Hundreds of satellite marches took place across the
country. Many Episcopal schools took the opportunity during the student
walk-out for a time of silent prayer and meditation.
National School Walkout
Doane Academy (left) in Burlington, NJ gathered outside for a moment of reflection, followed by student-led discussion groups on gun violence and student safety.
St. George’s Episcopal School (right) in
Milner, GA gathered for a silent procession to the chapel—ringing a
bell and tying on orange ribbon for each of the 17 victims. In Chapel,
the students lit 17 candles as they placed pictures of the victims on 17
empty chairs.
Over 150 students at Annie Wright School, in Tacoma, WA took part in the
walkout, many carrying signs. A chapel service took place in order
simply “to mourn without advocating for gun control,” the student
organizer said. Read more in Inkwell, the Annie Wright student news site.
At St. Paul’s Episcopal School in Oakland, CA, the middle school student council led 4th to 8th graders in 17 minutes of silent reflection outside. Scroll down to watch a video of the event as documented on the St. Paul’s Facebook page.
March for Our Lives
On the day of the March for Our Lives, many Episcopal school students traveled to Washington, D.C. to take part in the march. St. James School in Hagerstown, MD documented their trip on Instagram. Other schools represented include St. Stephen’s Episcopal School, Harrisburg, PA (left) and Anna Julia Cooper Episcopal School, Richmond, VA (right).
Do you have images of your school’s participation in or response to any of these events? Tweet them @naes_episcopal or share to our page on Facebook.
Further reading: “Teens, not adults, lead Episcopalians in gun violence protests and marches” from Episcopal News Service.