Bay Area students walk out on Columbine shooting anniversary

ST. PETERSBURG (FOX 13) - As students across the country continued their rallying cry to end gun violence, students at St. Petersburg High School joined the call to action.

Student Taylor Redington spent weeks organizing the walkout. She says she finds herself in class wondering what she would do if an active shooter situation broke out. It’s one of the many reasons why she’s marching.

“I don’t want our younger generation to feel the way we’re feeling right now,” Redington said. “I want things to change in the future so that way we can protect other generations of small children who are now growing up.”

St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman says it makes him hopeful for the future.

“That bodes well for our country that our younger generation is standing up and speaking out,” he said.

On the day that marked the 19th anniversary of the Columbine High School shooting, high school junior Kai Tomalin read aloud the names of those who lost their lives, years before his even began.

“Even though we weren’t alive during Columbine, the fact that it’s been 19 years and we still have school shootings periodically, has served as a catalyst for the movement,” Tomalin said.

It’s a movement Kriseman says has proven to be a force to be reckoned with.

“I don’t think these kids are going to stop, either until they have the chance to vote these folks out of office, or the elected officials start responding to what they’re asking them to do,” the mayor added.