There have been 18 incidents of gun violence on school grounds. 21 lives lost to gun violence in educational institutions. All just 45 days into 2018.

2018 is off to a violent, terrifying start that has been shaking the public, tearing into the shaken and divided society that is America today.

The Feb. 14 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, has been the last straw in tension that has been rising for years. Gun violence has been one of the biggest debates in America since the 2012 Sandy Hook elementary mass shooting, the largest school shooting in America’s history.

The issue of gun violence heavily draws into question the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution — the right to bear arms.

Since the Parkland attack, victimized students have stood up to create a movement — Never Again — to advocate for an end to gun violence. This movement has since sparked school walkouts across the country, and this week, the movement is coming to Manhattan in the form of the national school walkout on March 14 — one month after the Parkland massacre. The walkout calls for students, teachers, everyone, to walk out of school at 10 a.m. in peaceful protest for 17 minutes — one minute for each life lost in the Parkland shooting.

It is the agreement of The Mentor editorial board that we commend the courage of students willing to stand up peacefully and maturely to get a much needed message across to those in power.

We as students are the ones who are put at risk every time we walk into school. Our voices should be listened to the most. The voices of students — some who are coming into the world of adulthood — are too often demoted by political powers as the whining of petty children. This movement and act of pure maturity is a brilliant idea created by those who matter most in this issue.

Manhattan High students will participate in the peaceful walkout with full support of administration as well as showing support and action through Reach Out Day — a nonpartisan event hosted by Environmental Science Investigations in conjunction with Student Council and National Honor Society, where students can write and call to senators in support of ending gun violence, register to vote and write to Parkland victims (see Page 1 News for more information).

This event supports the biggest part of any movement: action.

A national walkout will get attention, but now, students who support an end to gun violence need to take responsible, peaceful action to continue the movement.

Speak up, and don’t stop until people listen. End the cycle.