Organizers say the event went “smoothly” and note the speakers were “inspirational”

Houston students demanded Friday that politicians enact stricter gun laws in the United States as they participated in a multitudinous walkout that culminated in a rally at City Hall.

According to Elena Margolin, publicity coordinator for the walkout, roughly 2,000 people may have gathered at City Hall, while a spokesman for the Houston Police Department said they didn't have an estimate.

On Thursday, the day before the walkout, Margolin told Houston Public Media that about 1,200 people had submitted RSVP forms to the organizers, who anticipated students from ten high schools, including two private institutions –Emery Weiner High School and St. John's High School— would participate.

The other eight high schools are: Bellaire High School; Carnegie High School; Chavez High School; Energy High School; HAIS; High School for Performing and Visual Arts; Lamar High School; and Northside High School.

The walkout was held on April 20 to make it coincide with the 19th anniversary of the Columbine mass shooting.

Proposed measures

Margolin detailed that some of the measures they are proposing are establishing mandatory waiting periods for purchasing firearms, as well as raising the age limit to purchase rifles to 21 years of age and banning “dangerous gun modifications” such as so-called bump stocks.

Margolin, who is a senior at Houston's High School for Performing and Visual Arts (HSPVA), said the walkout went “smoothly.” “I was really expecting some sort of problem to come up, like a speaker was out of hand, but, actually, it went so well.”

Everyone needs to be in school — including lawmakers and gun merchandisers who need to hear students' voices close up. Because sensible reform is needed to ensure school safety. #GunReform pic.twitter.com/RhseWZ7lLy — Sylvester Turner (@SylvesterTurner) April 20, 2018

HOUSTON YOUTH at City Hall! A post shared by Houston Youth Walkout (@houstonyouthwalkout) on Apr 20, 2018 at 9:08am PDT

“Everyone was so into it,” the organizer emphasized and added that “all the students came with such energy and there were so many different chants going on, the speakers were amazing and all so inspirational.”

Margolin, who said she saw “a couple of people” that she categorized as “counter protesters”, noted one of the highlights of the gathering at City Hall happened when Jacob Castillo, one of her peers at HSPVA, spoke to the crowd and said some politicians are trying to “bury” the students who are participating in the walkouts, but they don’t realize the students are “seeds” and, therefore, the movement will go on.

The organizer added that Houston Council Member and Mayor Pro-Tem Ellen Cohen –as well as Texas State Representative Gene Wu and Zeph Capo, vice president of the American Federation of Teachers— participated in the rally.

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner also addressed the crowd and, according to Margolin, praised the energy the students are showing.

The Parkland factor

The walkout was also happening in the context of several other walkouts that have taken place recently after another mass shooting happened on February 14 at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, in Parkland (Florida).

"I'm honored to be your mayor," I just told students pressing for sensible gun safety measures. #gunsense pic.twitter.com/xUAWHjNksG — Sylvester Turner (@SylvesterTurner) April 20, 2018

As for the future of the student movement in Houston, Margolin detailed that one of the “initial ideas” is creating a non-profit organization “to keep this going.”

“We’re going to keep raising money and keep holding some events that may or may not be other walkouts,” added the organizer, who also commented they will help students who are eligible to register as voters.

Our March and walkout may be over, but our fight or our movement hasn't. #HYW #HoustonYouthWalkout pic.twitter.com/8r26FBOlct — 🅡🅨🅐🅝 (@mtz_Ryan_) April 20, 2018

Additionally, students from other schools in the Greater Houston area also organized in-campus walkouts:

Houston Youth are walking out for gun reform! @UWDHouston is out here helping out #HoustonYouthWalkout #HereToFight pic.twitter.com/HSm0PH5DYy — United We Dream Houston #HereToFight (@UWDHouston) April 20, 2018

Marching to City Hall with Houston Youth #HoustonYouthWalkout #HereToFight pic.twitter.com/lsuFn8inrh — United We Dream Houston #HereToFight (@UWDHouston) April 20, 2018

Almost there.. No More Silence! Houston Youth letting their voices be heard #HoustonYouthWalkout #HereToFight pic.twitter.com/tcRuAUk4ri — United We Dream Houston #HereToFight (@UWDHouston) April 20, 2018

Come out to City Hall Houston and hear your Youth #HoustonYouthWalkout #HereToFight pic.twitter.com/pcEtoNKa6u — United We Dream Houston #HereToFight (@UWDHouston) April 20, 2018

Houston Youth Walkout has wrapped up at City Hall, and marchers are now silently walking back to Wiley Park. Some students are using the time to email legislators. pic.twitter.com/oQ3d6SfyID — Jacob Carpenter (@ChronJacob) April 20, 2018

MORE: Houston-Area Students Express Concerns With Walkouts

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