Holding balloons, ribbons and hand-painted signs, thousands of students walked out of classes at Front Range schools on Wednesday morning to protest gun violence and mark one month since a gunman killed 17 people at a Florida high school. They joined thousands of students across the country in a movement they have called #Enough.

At Columbine High School, where two students killed a dozen classmates and a teacher in 1999, at least 100 students filed out of classes at 10 a.m. Some carried red, white and blue balloons and huddled on the school’s soccer fields. Students also read the names of the students killed in the Columbine shooting.

“Even though Columbine happened 19 years ago, nothing has changed to prevent this from happening again,” a Columbine student speaking into a microphone told classmates. Other students tied orange ribbons — a symbol of gun violence protest — to a fence.

“We are Columbine. Once a Rebel, always a Rebel. We are a community. And enough is enough,” said 15-year-old Columbine student Leah Zundel.

16 y/o Kaylee Tyner said when she can vote, she will take gun leg into consideration. pic.twitter.com/2X759jV8Uy — Elizabeth Hernandez (@ehernandez) March 14, 2018

Students began leaving their classes at 10 a.m. for 17 minutes, one minute for each of the 17 students and staff members killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Feb. 14 in Parkland, Fla. More than 3,000 schools and organizations across the country began participating in the #Enough National School Walkout to End Gun Violence organized by Women’s March Youth, the youth activist wing of the Women’s March group.

“Protect kids not guns,” read a sign carried by Isabelle Morden, an 18-year-old student at Cherokee Trail High School in Aurora.

“”Hey, hey, NRA, how many kids have you killed today?” Cherokee students chanted at one point.

State lawmakers including House Speaker Crisanta Duran and Lt. Gov. Donna Lynne joined hundreds of students who converged outside the state Capitol around 11:30 a.m., blocking parts of Lincoln Avenue.

A look at the signs students are waving. The west steps are covered. Interactions between lawmakers and students are interesting. pic.twitter.com/7KfH0GfjdD — Jesse Aaron Paul (@JesseAPaul) March 14, 2018

They shouted and waved signs that expressed their political aspirations — “I dream women will one day have the same rights as guns,” read one girl’s hand-lettered sign. Some stopped to chat lawmakers.

A group of sophomore boys told Rep. Dave Young, D-Greeley, that they’d come from the Rocky Mountain School of Expeditionary Learning in south Denver to protest. “What does expeditionary learning mean to you? Is that not what you are doing today? Having a little expedition?” Young asked.

“I love to see our students actually being leaders,” he told a group of reporters gathered on the West Steps of the Capitol before the students quickly dispersed.

The student who started this chant introduced it with “I’m not sure, it’s a little edgy” pic.twitter.com/eB9MRiWhkg — Alex Scoville (@AlexScoville) March 14, 2018

At Arapahoe High School, where a student killed one classmate and then himself in 2013, hundreds of students walked out of the school. They were met by clapping and cheering from more than a dozen neighbors, parents and grandparents who gathered on a sidewalk outside.

Arapahoe student organizers Paul Gordon and Lucas Mederos said they wanted to walk out so share their views that gun violence needs to stop and to inspire others to use their voices, too. They’re both 17-year-old juniors from Highlands Ranch, and they said they were already looking forward to being able to vote. They said gun issues will sway their opinions on candidates.

At Denver’s South High School, district security was on hand an hour before nearly 300 students walked out. Journalists, parents and others were kept off school grounds at South, Columbine, Arapahoe and other campuses.

South High junior Sole Garcia stood outside the school Wednesday morning with a hand-painted sign that said: “Protect student lives.”

“We have such a big voice, and we need to start using that on this issue,” Garcia said. “We are going to vote soon, and we will be heard.”

“We can’t let this keep happening — we have to take a stand,” said South senior Sophie Condin, who helped organize the walkout.

For Colorado students, the fear of gun violence is part of the sad legacy they have inherited over the past two decades stretching back to the massacre at Columbine. That fear is reinforced with every new school shooting and even the drills they are put through from a young age.

Denver Public Schools said it is providing “safe places” for middle and high school students to express their views about guns in American society. Middle school students will not be allowed to walk off campus unless a parent or guardian gives written permission.

Fear kept some students at home on Wednesday, after reports about vague threats that had been made against some Denver-area schools.

At Horizon High School in Adams County, 16-year-old sophomore Jack Hahn said a group of students gathered in the back of the school at 10 a.m. to protest. But Hahn said he did not participate because he doesn’t believe gun control is the issue at hand.

Mackenzie Todd, a 15-year-old sophomore at Horizon, said she participated in the walkout despite dozens of threats of violence reported to the school. Todd said she needed to show courage for the sake of her classmates. Students estimated that about 100 classmates walked out as part of the protest.

“There’s a lot of kids who actually fear coming to school … it’s important we aren’t afraid to come to school,” Todd said.

At Cherokee Trail High School, several hundred students walked out of their classes, some carrying band instruments and textbooks.

“We appreciate you guys walking out, but this is just the beginning. This won’t be over until Congress takes action,” said Cherokee Trail walkout organizer Ramsha Ahmed. She encouraged classmates to call Colorado Sens. Michael Bennet and Cory Gardner about gun control.

“Remember, our lives matter and our voices matter,” said Emily Berton, one of the three organizers of the walkout at her school.

Brooke Pantaleo of CTHS is now reading the names of the 17 killed in Parkland pic.twitter.com/lSSaTGtJCb — Alex Scoville (@AlexScoville) March 14, 2018

Inside CTHS, a poster wall where students formed a number 17 out of sticky notes thanking people who have shown them kindness, including a boy who shares his food, a teacher who prevents bullying and a friend who was there during a dark time pic.twitter.com/CmjABgEShZ — Alex Scoville (@AlexScoville) March 14, 2018

Seniors Alex Nelson and Iley Cao said about 150-200 students walked out in protest at ThunderRidge High School.

DPS high school students were encouraged to stay on campus but were allowed to leave if they choose. DPS also worked with Denver police to monitor planned walkouts and to ensure student safety.

Jefferson County School Superintendent Jason Glass said in a districtwide message that he expects students to be respectful of one another and of staffers and to “express their opinions in a responsible and peaceful manner, to communicate with school leadership, and to put learning first.”

And from another senior, Isabelle Morden, 18, who also wore a Columbine remembrance shirt pic.twitter.com/qETTgXrTOY — Alex Scoville (@AlexScoville) March 14, 2018

Talked to student organizes Paul Gordon and Lucas Mederos. Both said they wanted to walk out so share their views that gun violence needs to stop and to inspire others to use their voices too pic.twitter.com/hiHi2MI0Op — Danika Worthington (@Dani_Worth) March 14, 2018

15 y/o Leah Zundle says she won't go to school in fear anymore. #Enough pic.twitter.com/lAErFtmWyJ — Elizabeth Hernandez (@ehernandez) March 14, 2018

Students also reading names of those lost in Columbine shooting. Now holding a moment of silence. pic.twitter.com/XhwOBxJ39y — Elizabeth Hernandez (@ehernandez) March 14, 2018

There’s a growing crowd on the sidewalk pic.twitter.com/AwodYwH2Pr — Danika Worthington (@Dani_Worth) March 14, 2018

One student who is not participating in the walkout has informed me many of his classmates did not come to school today for fear of the reported threats. #Enough #NationalStudentWalkout — Peyton Garcia (@peytonmgarcia) March 14, 2018

In 1999, 2 Columbine High students killed 12 others and a teacher in a shooting massacre. In 2018, the Fla. high school #ParklandShooting left 17 people dead. Today, Columbine students will join peers nationwide walking out to say #Enough gun violence. pic.twitter.com/wKdtizuh24 — Elizabeth Hernandez (@ehernandez) March 14, 2018

Media have been told to gather by the Columbine memorial. Seems really far from where students will be, but we're here. pic.twitter.com/dj0bVUOZEd — Elizabeth Hernandez (@ehernandez) March 14, 2018

South student Sole Garcia with her self -made sign asking for school safety #ENOUGH pic.twitter.com/0wF96k6n29 — monte Whaley (@monteWhaley) March 14, 2018

Conor Bolger, 8, holds signs in solidarity. His elementary school feeds into Mountain Vista High. #ENOUGH @denverpost pic.twitter.com/LInlcOXNHv — Holly Graham (@hcgraham5) March 14, 2018

Most of the walkouts were at high schools, but some middle schools also participated.

“My mom said we had to do something to show our support,” said 10-year-old Cameron Hebets, who held an anti-gun sign with his buddy Finn Levine at South High School.

In Washington, thousands of students gathered on Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House, holding colorful signs and cheering in support of gun control. The students chanted, “Hey, hey, ho, ho. The NRA has got to go!” President Donald Trump was in Los Angeles at the time.

Stoneman Douglas High senior David Hogg livestreamed the walkout at the tragedy-stricken school in Parkland, Florida, on his YouTube channel. Walking amid a mass of people making their way onto the football field, he criticized politicians for not taking more action to protect students.

Denver Post staffers Holly Graham, Peyton Garcia, Jesse Paul and Alex Scoville, and The Associated Press contributed to this story.