CMCSS prepares for student walkouts planned for Wednesday

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Students across the nation, including many in Clarksville-Montgomery County, will participate in organized school walkouts Wednesday, March 14.

Wednesday’s #ENOUGH National School Walkout, organized by the activists who helped plan the Women’s March in Washington for the past two years, will begin at 10 a.m. local time.

According to Reuters, students across the country will walk out of their classrooms for 17 minutes to commemorate the 17 victims who lost their lives after the Feb. 14 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

On Monday, March 12, the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System (CMCSS) along with the Clarksville Police Department and Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office held a public forum to discuss school safety and security. Among the issues addressed was Wednesday’s planned walkout.

CMCSS Director of Schools Millard House II said parents who wish to allow their students to protest are required to provide proof of permission to the school.

“We’ve taken an approach to ensure that we from a legal perspective we respect the rights of students so that they will have the right in some form or fashion to express themselves,” House told ClarksvilleNow.

House said that as a way to ensure the safety of students, which is the district’s first priority, students will have the opportunity Wednesday to make their voices heard by writing letters to the administration, to lawmakers, or other officials. He said this provides students an opportunity to peacefully express themselves and remain safe.

“From the school district’s standpoint we do know that a lot has happened, not only in Florida and Kentucky in recent months, but in years past, where people with ill intentions have looked to find moments where they can do harm. Our job is to ensure that we keep kids safe,” he said. “We’re expecting students to express themselves in a peaceful manner. Now on the flip side, if we do have situations where students are not utilizing a peaceful assembly methodology, then we will utilize the code of conduct in addressing situations with students. We don’t expect that to occur but we’ve made it clear where the line is drawn.”

Students in Clarksville and Nashville have also organized March for Our lives rallies for Saturday, March 24 in solidarity with similar organized events across the country.