The Lassiter High School students who organized the school walkout on March 14 to commemorate the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting and draw the attention of lawmakers, are now organizing a student-led panel to discuss possible solutions to gun violence.
One of the organizers is senior Hannah Andress, who received an in-school suspension for her participation in the walkout. She addressed the Cobb County Board of Education on March 15 regarding the county’s handling of the event and participated in last month’s Atlanta March For Our Lives.
All legislators and those running for office are invited to attend. Karín Sandiford, who is running for the House District 46 seat, wrote on Facebook that she will be there.
Interested students must submit an application for a chance to be on the panel. Currently all the student organizers have the link to the application on their Instagram accounts, but once the details are finalized with the PTSA, it will also be sent out through an email blast. The leaders are hoping to have two students from each grade level that will “facilitate nonpartisan conversation.” Though the panel will entirely consist of students, there will be opportunities for the audience to participate and ask questions.
“The goals of the panel are to show our representatives that if they don’t discuss solutions and push for something productive and effective, then we will,” Andress said. “We are trying to, again, apply pressure to our reps because we need change and we won’t stop until those in charge do something.”
The panel will take place in the Lassiter Concert Hall on Wednesday April 18 at 6:30. All are welcome.