We’re posting updates from the Ballard High School walkout here.
Update: Governor Jay Inslee will be attending Ballard High’s walkout this morning (Wednesday).
We spoke with Ballard High principal Keven Wynkoop, and he said there are two events at 10 a.m.
“The student led walkout (unsanctioned) will be on the corner of 65th and 15th by the stone Ballard sign. They will have 1-2 minutes of silence at 10:00 and then student speeches followed by Governor Inslee,” he said. “We also have a sanctioned event on the track that staff and students can participate in where they will be walking the track quietly for the 17 minutes.”
Governor Inslee has been supportive of students speaking out against gun violence. “I’m glad they’re speaking up,” he said on Tuesday. “I want to thank them for their voices.”
Earlier: Students in dozens of Seattle schools — including in Ballard — plan a walkout on Wednesday as part of a national effort “to protest Congress’ inaction to do more than tweet thoughts and prayers in response to the gun violence plaguing our schools and neighborhoods.”
The walkout is planned for 10 a.m. and will last 17 minutes, one minute for each student killed in the shooting at Parkland’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
While the school district isn’t detailing which schools are expected to participate, a map on the organizers’ website lists Ballard High, Salmon Bay, Whitman Middle and Whittier Heights schools. A week ago, the school board passed a resolution calling on lawmakers to increase gun safety.
Then on March 24th, thousands of Seattleites are expected to participate in March For Our Lives, starting at 10 a.m. at Cal Anderson Park at 10 a.m. and ending at KeyArena. Emilia Allard, a senior at Ballard High School, is helping organize the event.