Several seventh graders at Chute Middle School have planned a peaceful protest scheduled to take place at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 7, according to an email sent to parents and families from Principal Jim McHolland.
Students in sixth and seventh grade who want to participate at Chute will walk out of the building with signs protesting gun violence in the wake of the elementary school shooting last month in Uvalde, Texas, where a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers.
“Given the recent events that unfolded almost two weeks ago in Uvalde Texas, a number of students have expressed the desire to stage a peaceful protest,” McHolland said in his email to families on Sunday evening. “We want to support their right to have their voices heard by helping them to organize this walk-out.”
Even though the intent is the same, this walkout is not connected with the group Students Demand Action, which also calls for school walkouts and protests Tuesday.
Chute students joining the protest will line up on Oakton Street outside the front entrance to the middle school with their signs for about 20 minutes Tuesday morning, according to McHolland. Students will then return to the building to begin their second period classes.
“We recognize that not all students and families will want their student to participate,” he said. “We will provide supervision inside in either the cafe or auditorium during the time others are outside.”
The last day of this school year for eighth graders was Wednesday, June 1, so only sixth and seventh graders will be present for the walkout. The final day for all other District 65 students is Wednesday, June 8.