By Millie Beland and Giada Squarcia
A new buzzword, #walkupnotout, overtook FHS Wednesday, March 14 in response to the National Student Walkout meant to commemorate the one-month anniversary of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.
Flora High School junior Sydnee Lewis introduced the idea of the #walkupnotout to our school after hearing about North Clay junior Maddie McKinney’s plan to encourage students at her school to wear shirts reminding everyone to be kind to 17 people rather than walk out of class to commemorate the victims of the Florida shooting.
The Flora Police Department quickly supported the movement, providing #walkupnotout t-shirts free of charge to all students and staff. Around 265 t-shirts were donated.
Flora’s event began before school with a prayer circle led by members of Xenia United Methodist youth group and a message from junior Trey Lewis. Over 100 students attended the event, and even more sported the shirts throughout the day. This number greatly exceeded Lewis’s expectations of around 50 participants. Before the after the prayer circle Crystal Luttrell from Xenia United Methodist Church provided donuts for all attendants at the prayer circle.
The comments Lewis received about the events were all positive and she’s looking forward for exciting things planned in the future, though she’s unsure of specifics at this point.