West Liberty, Springfield students walk out, likely face punishments

UPDATE @ 1 p.m.: Garrett Baldwin, a student in Mechanicsburg, was at the West Liberty Salem walkout. He said at his school they had a "discussion" and he thought a walkout was "more important.""I applaud their beliefs and their motivation," Baldwin said. "In America that's one of the most important things we have, the ability to voice our difference in opinion. … We're sick and tired of kids being gunned down in schools, it's a really important issue."

UPDATE @ 10:30 a.m.: Between 25 and 50 students walked out of classes at Springfield High School today.

Springfield High is holding moments of silence throughout the day to honor the students of the Parkland, Fla., shooting and asked students not to walk out as part of a national movement today. Students there could face punishment for walking out, district leaders said.

FIRST POST: About 10 students walked out of classes this morning at West Liberty-Salem High School as part of a national effort to support the victims of a Florida school shooting and push for reforms.

RELATED: Clark, Champaign schools discourage student walkouts, cite safety

A small group of residents supporting the students also lined the street across from the Champaign County high school, holding signs and cheering for the students when they walked out of the building.

West Liberty-Salem was the site of a school shooting on Jan. 20, 2017. Two students were shot, one seriously injured.

Students who walk out will face consequences, West Liberty Superintendent Kraig Hissong and several other Clark and Champaign County school leaders said.

Logan Cole, the victim of the West Liberty-Salem High School shooting last year, took to social media to speak out against the demonstrations. Instead, he'll lead a memorial service during lunch and homeroom.

“I invite all WL-S students, no matter your political views, to attend our memorial service for the Florida shooting victims … I feel that it is a good alternative to honor the victims of the shooting in a non-political way,” Cole said.

3 MUST READ STORIES

At least one dead in Champaign County crash on U.S. 68

Springfield Panera to add delivery services

Racially insensitive post by fired Springfield firefighter ‘awful’

About the Author