AKRON, Ohio - Fifth-grade students at the Case Community Learning Center met with several Akron Public Schools board members today to request input for their student-led action plan ahead of the National School Walkout planned for March 14.

The national walkout was initiated by the student survivors of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, which took place last month. Now, students at schools throughout the country are planning walkouts on March 14 to call for stricter gun laws.

Several 5th grade students at Case began gathering signatures for their action plan on Feb. 23. Inspiration for the plan also came from a project students are working on that compares and contrasts the Birmingham Children's Crusade of 1963 with the walkout planned for March 14.

The students' plan calls for age-appropriate activities for students in grades K-2 and 3-5 to recognize the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting victims. Planned walkout activities include signage that displays each victim's name, and a balloon launch featuring 17 balloons -- one in honor of each shooting victim.

"We want to protest against gun shooters and violence in the world, said 5th grader Bella Wesley. "We want to peacefully protest against gun violence because we wanted gun violence never to take place again."

The students, led by Wesley and representatives Anas Farra and Maeva Lyle, presented their plan to Case CLC Principal Danjile Henderson for her review on Friday.

"I am a proud principal," Henderson said. "That my students took the initiative and brought in school board members to have their voice heard is pretty cool."

School board members present at the discussion were Ginger Baylor, Lisa Mansfield and Rev. Curtis T. Walker, Sr. The board members also fielded questions from students about book bag checks, metal detectors, how to help kids who might have anger/sadness issues and arming teachers.

"We on the board are against gun violence and want to make sure students and staff feel safe, loved and appreciated," Walker said. "Don't ever be afraid to stand up for what's right -- your voice rings loud as long as you do it together in a peaceful and nonviolent way. We want to support you and what you do because you are speaking for us."

Board members Baylor and Mansfield agreed that students could participate in the March 14 walkout as long as the protest was peaceful, and the students' safety remained a priority.

"The kids talking about coming together -- it empowers them to be better students and carries on in the future part of their education," Baylor said. "I'm looking forward to seeing how the students carry this out."

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