Hundreds of Florida high school students have formed a giant, human heart on their school football field to honour the 17 students and staff members gunned down at nearby Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

Carrying signs reading reading “Make us safe” and “Justice for Douglas,” the Coral Springs High School students marched onto the field in memory of the victims, and in protest of gun violence in America.

"We’re protesting for better mental health care and stricter gun laws so things like this can’t happen in our schools anymore because we need to make a difference. It can’t happen anymore," Coral Springs High student Jaylen Pesantes told NBC 6.

The students were just a handful of the thousands who staged walkouts across Florida today, just one week after police say a lone gunman entered Stoneman Douglas and fired on his victims with an AR-15 rifle.

Students at Cooper City High School, just 25 miles away, also formed a heart on their football field. At nearby Cypress Bay High School, some 5,000 students and staff members walked out of the building in protest, according to ABC 10 News. Students brought signs reading "I am fed up … We all are!" and "Bring on the politicians! We will rise!"

Florida shooting – in pictures Show all 10 1 /10 Florida shooting – in pictures Florida shooting – in pictures Police arrest a suspect in connection with the shooting at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida Reuters Florida shooting – in pictures Parents wait for news after reports of a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida AP Florida shooting – in pictures Anxious family members wait for news of students AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee Florida shooting – in pictures Students being evacuated from the school AP Florida shooting – in pictures Students being evacuated from the school Getty Florida shooting – in pictures People gather waiting for word from students AP Florida shooting – in pictures Parents waiting for news on their children AP Florida shooting – in pictures People gather at a hotel where students were taken after the shooting Getty Florida shooting – in pictures Florida Governor Rick Scott speaks to the media as he visits Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School following the shooting AFP/Getty Florida shooting – in pictures Dr. Igor Nichiporenko, Medical Director Trauma, left, and Dr. Evan Boyer, Medical Director, Emergency Services, speak about treating victims and the suspect at a press conference outside Broward Health North hospital AP

Across the street, survivors of the Stoneman Douglas shooting testified to their experience.

"I think that it's important that they come and they talk to us, and they tell us their experience so that we can advocate, and we can fight with them, and stand with them as students so this doesn't happen again," Senior Class President Julia Levy told ABC 10.

Survivor of Florida school shooting speaks at State Capitol rally

The protests were part of a movement started by the Stoneman Douglas student survivors, who are advocating for new gun control laws across the country. Using the hashtag #NoMore, they have helped plan walkouts in high schools, town halls in the state capital, and even a listening session with Donald Trump in Washington DC.

At the listening session on Wednesday, Stoneman Douglas student Sam Zeif told the president he had lost a best friend in the shooting.

“I’m here to use my voice because I know he can’t,” Mr Zeif said. “And I know he’s with me, cheering me on to be strong, but it’s hard. And to feel like this – It doesn’t even feel like a week. Time has stood still.”