Almost 300 students gathered outside of to protest Wisconsin's anti-union legislation on Thursday. Fearing the bill may have, the teens walked out of class in support of collective bargaining.

(Watch the video by clicking on the image to the right.) "This is obviously something that the government and big businesses are pushing, but the people don't want it at all and I know Illinois doesn't want it," said Alex Knorr, 18, a senior at Niles West and an organizer of the event.

"So, this is kind of the students' way of saying we don't want [the anti-union bill] in Illinois and we don't want it in our school," she added. Hundreds of students lined up in front of Oakton Street and held signs that read, "Union Rights = Human Rights" and "Care about our teachers like you care about your kids." Truck drivers and other motorists honked their horns in support of the protest.

Many students cheered at the top of their lungs, while others broke out into dance to stir up the crowd. Meanwhile, teachers oversaw the event, making sure the demonstration was safe and peaceful. The idea of a walkout came after liberal filmmaker Michael Moore applauded Wisconsin high school students for organizing a mass walkout on March 10 to protest the anti-union legislation, which Republican Gov. Scott Walker enacted by signing the next day. However, unlike the students at the state capitol in Madison, Niles West's demonstration called for all attendees to go back to their final class at about 2:40 p.m.

"If we don't go back to class then it won't be as strong of a statement," Knorr said. "People will say we just wanted to ditch class and that's not the case."

The demonstration began around 2 p.m.--or eighth period, the second to last class of the school day--and lasted for about 40 minutes. Students were told by teachers that if they cut class to attend the protest, they could expect a detention slip the following day.

Niles West Principal Kaine Osburn said students would have to serve a detention for skipping class. "I think some students are legitimately demonstrating in civil disobedience," Osburn said as he observed the protest. "They love their teachers, had great experience with their teachers, and I'm sympathetic.