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Education is a big issue in northern Michigan, whether we're reporting on school funding issues to breakthroughs in the classroom.

Northern Michigan students organize school walkouts to protest gun violence

Woman's March Network

  

Next month, students from hundreds of schools across the country will walk out of classes for 17 minutes, protesting gun violence in schools. This comes in the wake of the school shooting in Parkland, Florida where 17 people died.

Students in northern Michigan schools are organizing to join the National School Walkout on March 14. So far, events are being organized at Ludington High School and Traverse City West Senior High School.

“It’s scary thinking that anyone can access such a powerful gun or any gun," says Marly Berry, who is organizing the walkout at Traverse City West. "No one should be afraid to learn or go to school, and I think that changes need to be made.”

The 15-year-old freshman says she hopes the walkout will get the attention of lawmakers, prompting them to make changes to gun laws.

“I want to get the attention of adults, lawmakers, and the senators of Michigan," says Berry. "This generation needs to be the last generation that is fighting for this change."

The Women’s March Network is sponsoring the national event. Their website says the walkout is in protest of congressional inaction. The description says they need "to do more than tweet thoughts and prayers in response to the gun violence plaguing our schools and neighborhoods."

Morgan Springer is a contributing editor and producer at Interlochen Public Radio. She previously worked for the New England News Collaborative as the host/producer of NEXT, the weekly show which aired on six public radio station in the region.