On Friday, Sept. 5, 2025, West Potomac students participated in a nationwide protest against gun violence in America. The protest involved students walking out of the building and to the football field during 5th period. This walkout was created by a larger organization, Students Demand Action, in order to show that students are “fed up” and tired of lawmakers taking no action to provide students a safe environment to learn in.
This protest was spurred in part by tragic recent events. The Catholic School Shooting in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was one of the most recent mass shootings in America. It was the first week of class for the students at Annunciation Catholic School when 23-year-old Robin Westman opened fire on pupils, killing two children and injuring 18 people in total.
In response to tragedies like Minneapolis, at 12:00 p.m., hundreds of West Po students flooded Jeffrey Dietze Stadium to show solidarity for students impacted by gun violence nationwide. Once students had entered the stadium, sophomore Eloise Andreozzi, the organizer of the event, spoke on the importance of preventing gun violence in the future and reflected on some of the lives lost in schools through gun violence.
“I think it’s important [the walkout] because this issue has been affecting students all across the country,” Andreozzi said. “And I think it’s really important that students demonstrate in some way to show that we understand that this is an issue and we’re not gonna sit around and let it happen.”
Some students that attended the walkout even have loved ones who’ve been impacted by gun violence. For them, the walkout was a reflection of the drastic effects of gun violence and how it devastates communities.
“I have family in Nashville who are severely impacted by the Covenant School shooting. I know that ever since, I’ve kind of been an advocate for stopping gun violence,” Joel Simpson, senior, said. “I think that people need to start making common sense laws, and we need to stop selling assault rifles that are made to kill people.”
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Students participate in chants of “No guns in schools,” and “Ban guns,” at yesterday’s walkout.
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Students record the speakers at yesterday’s walkout and reflect on the impact of gun violence in schools nationwide.
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Students hold signs stressing the importance of bringing attention to gun violence in schools.
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Students in the cafeteria with their homemade signs preparing to head to Jeffery Dietze Stadium as part of the nationwide gun violence walkout.
Additionally, many teachers who attended the walkout viewed it as a success and were proud to see students stand up in protest.
Mr. Baldwin, a history and government teacher at West Po, said, “I think it [the walkout] went fairly well. I heard a lot of student voices, and all my students were able to give a clear answer to why they were here.”
While chants of no guns and ban guns filled the stadium, senior Sofia Rubinstein had a slightly opposing opinion, stressing the importance of regulating guns as opposed to an outright ban.
“I think they [guns] should be strictly and heavily regulated, but I don’t think we can just go around saying no guns, because that spreads the entirely wrong message,” said Rubinstein.
In the wake of recent events at West Po and the introduction of metal detectors, the walkout was a reminder of the importance of safety in schools and of putting in place laws and regulations that protect students.
“Gun violence specifically has not affected West Po students, but other forms of violence at our school have. That’s why we have metal detectors outside of FCPS [Fairfax County Public Schools] now,” said Rubinstein.
Other West Po students have expressed their own concerns about the prevalence of violence in schools.
“I’m tired of coming to school worrying about the possibility of gun violence, when I should be worrying whether or not I will pass a class,” said junior Allison Miller.
