School districts planning for walkouts on March 14

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Around the country, young people are working to stress the importance of doing more to keep schools free from violence. It’s why many plan to participate in a national school walkout this month, including here in the Cape Fear.

Students from two schools in Brunswick County and Hoggard High in New Hanover County plan to walk out of their classrooms March 14. This is one month after the Parkland Massacre. They will be out of class for 17 minutes, one for each of the people killed during the school shooting at Stoneman Douglas High.

Students in New Hanover County will not be punished, to an extent.

“No, at this point, we’re not planning on any punishments. Now if you left campus, that would be a different discussion. But if you’re walking out as part of some kind of protest and then back in, I think it’s an opportunity for us, as I said, to have those discussions with students,” Superintendent Tim Markley said.

Brunswick County Schools say students will be allowed to participate in the planned protest. Each school will have a designated area which will be monitored by law enforcement during the 17 minutes.