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'Books not bullets': Arkansas students participate in nationwide walkout

Central High released 17 balloons honoring the 17 victims of the Parkland, Fla. tragedy. Students at Robinson were not allowed to walk out and instead...

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) - Students came ready with over 200 signs. They also came ready with some strong words for anyone who criticized Wednesday’s walkout.

“What if it was your kid? How would you feel if it was your kid who was one of 17 kids shot and killed?” Student Body President Erin Farmer said.

Central High students released 17 balloons in honor of the 17 victims of the Parkland, Fla. tragedy at the end of the demonstrations. A moment of silence was also observed before the walkout.

"A lot of people who are critics of these protests don't go to school. They are adults that own guns and have guns. But they're not the ones that go to school every day,” Jewell said.

Little Rock School District Superintendent Michael Poore said Tuesday students would not be punished for walking out.

Students at Robinson High School in Pulaski County were not allowed to walk out. If they did, they would be counted as absent from class.

So instead, students were encouraged to wear the color gray.

“[Stoneman Douglas’] colors were gray and maroon. And we figured that it would be easy to wear the colors so we can represent,” one student said.

Robinson High School also held a moment of silence, and read off the names of the 17 victims. A group of students also went around collecting change to be donated to Marjory Stoneman Douglas.

"To have us all come together, raise money and bring awareness, just kind of gets us ready for the future when we're actually going to be able to effect the change that comes,” another Robinson student said.

While March 14's demonstrations may be over, students across the country say this is just the beginning.

"We don't want some random kid with a gun. I don't want my teacher with a gun. I go to school to learn. I don't go to school to fight for my life,” Jewell said.

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