Students across the United States demanded action against gun violence in a National School Walkout one month after the shooting that left 17 dead at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.
University of Memphis students joined the nationwide protest Wednesday and observed a moment of silence for each of the 17 victims from the shooting. Students who took part in the protest were standing in solidarity with the Stoneman Douglas High School students, as well as expressing disapproval with current gun laws.
The Progressive Student Alliance (PSA) organized the march, which started in the center of campus at the Tom the Tiger statue and traveled to the front of the FedEx Institute of Technology. While changing locations, the crowd began chanting, “When schools are under attack, what do we do? Stand up and fight back.” Although the PSA hosted the protest to unite with the thousands of students across the country, Alexandria Broadnax, co-chair for the organization, made the march personal when she recalled that FedEx has decided to cut ties with the National Rifle Association (NRA).
“You can say we’re against these shootings and gun violence, but you’re still giving discounts to the NRA,” Broadnax said.
FedEx offers up to a 26 percent discount to NRA members and has also been a big contributor to the U of M. The company has invested a lot of money in the university, which is why Broadnax said the protest was personal.
In an open letter to the public about their partnership with the NRA, FedEx stated that although they “oppose assault rifles being in the hands of civilians,” their positions on gun control and safety is different than that of the NRA. But because the corperation is a public carrier of goods under federal law, the company “will not deny service or discriminate against any legal entity regardless of their policy positions or political views.”
Broadnax said she thinks FedEx is playing the middle ground and encourages the company to “put their money where their mouth is.”
“There were so many kids whose lives were simply cut off because people have such easy access to guns,” Broadnax said.
Anna Kakhniashvili, a junior teaching all learners major, said people should not fear someone might come into any place with an assault rifle.
“People should feel safe, but also school shooting shouldn’t be happening,” Kakhniashvili said. “We shouldn’t have this much gun violence.”
Students were not the only participants in the march on campus. Many professors were a part of the march, including history professor Brian Kwoba, who canceled class and took his students to the protest. Kwoba described the events today as “history in the making” and wanted to show a united front.
“This was an opportunity for us to move from reading about and discussing U.S. history to witnessing it as it unfolds,” Kwoba said.
Kwoba said the younger generation is leading many of the social movements recently, and the social protest his students study in class are linked to the ones now.
“The young people then and now are taking the lead and showing the adults which way the wind is blowing,” Kwoba said.
More University of Memphis students came out to help protest bringing along their own signs. A whole class, plus their professor, came out of their building to join the walk out.
Student holds up signs wanting to boycott the NRA, The National Rifle Association, and have had enough of the gun violence.
Students gathered by Tom the Tiger in front of the University Center with their many signs each depicting their feelings on the gun violence. More students came out with their signs during the moment of silence, flooding the front of the UC.
Tiger Life shows their support for the victims of the Parkland Florida shootings during the walk out. Students and facility came out and gathered for a 17 minute moment of silence for the 17 victims of the shooting at Parkland Florida.
Students gathered in front of the University Center at The University of Memphis to do a peaceful protest for the students who have lost their lives in mass school shootings. Tiger life students even came out with their signs to show their support for the cause.
Students begin protesting in front of the University Center. They chanted for gun laws to be changed to prevent future school shootings.
Student Chrissy Green sits by Tom the Tiger with her sign for the National Walk Out Day at The University of Memphis. Green was one of many students who came out for the event to stand up for gun violence.
Students hold up signs saying, "Protect Students Not Guns!" for National Walk Out Day. After the moment of silence the students were lead into chants before they started their march through campus.
The students chanted through campus heading to the FedEx building to continue their protest. Students held up their signs gaining attention from other students across campus.
Students marched through the chilly morning on the University of Memphis campus to protest for stricter gun laws. Students headed to the FedEx institute building on campus to wrap up their protest there.
Student Alex Broadax lead the National Walk Out Day and spoke to the crowd that formed in front of the FedEx Institute building on campus. Speakers also came up to give their piece.
Alex Broadax held up a sign and chanted to the crowd before inviting up speakers. Students held their signs back up to Broadax to show their support gaining attention of students walking by.
Alex Broadax looks out at the crowd around her after she finishes her speech on the shootings throughout America.
Student Anna Kakhniashvili was so moved from the protest that she spoke out and thanked the students for doing this walk out today.
