Northwestern High Students Stage Peaceful Gun Violence Protest
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NORTHWEST MIAMI-DADE (CBSMiami) – Students at Miami Northwestern High School walked out of class and off campus shortly before noon to protest gun violence after a deadly shooting in Liberty City.
The students, hundreds of them, carrying balloons and posters, left the school at 1100 NW 71st Street and made their way to the corner of Northwest 63 Street and 13th Avenue which is where four people were shot, two fatally, over the weekend.
The walkout was peaceful, but at one point, Chopper 4 spotted one student jumping on the hood of a car.
The students are angry and upset about the continuing gun violence in their neighborhood which took two more lives Sunday including 17-year-old Northwestern Senior High student Kimson Green and former student Ricky Dixon, 18.
"This is ridiculous," said student Christy St. Eloi, who marched with classmates. "It should not be happening."
Green was about to be inducted into the National Honor Society, according to his family.
His grieving mother was moved by the demonstration.
"He was loved by everyone except the person who killed him," said Dominique Green. "He was my heart and you can't live without your heart."
Davonte Price, who was close friends with Dixon, made a poster with photos of Dixon that he carried during the march.
"We were close friends," said Price. "I saw him Saturday. It's shocking to see that [he was killed]."
Another Northwestern High 12th grade student and an unidentified fourth person both survived.
The four were gunned down as they sat on the lawn outside a row of one-floor apartments. The gunman or gunmen got away.
Sunday's shooting took place just about two blocks away from where 4-year-old Nyla Jones was shot and killed a week earlier as a result of a family dispute. Her uncle was charged with the crime.
Democratic congresswoman Frederica Wilson called for change when she met with student activists and clergy after school Tuesday.
"I'm asking law enforcement what can you do to break up the gang violence so these children don't have to be afraid going to school," said Wilson.
Students say they hope they can start a movement in their community similar to the one started by Marjory Stoneman Douglas students after the mass shooting there in February.
Community activists say Sunday's shooting was part of an escalating wave of violence between street gangs in Liberty City and Brownsville.
Those students who took part in the controlled walkout but didn't return will face disciplinary action, according to a spokesperson for Miami-Dade County Public Schools.
"We're still gathering some information but what I do know is that students were given the opportunity to participate in a controlled walkout," Miami-Dade schools spokesperson Jackie Calzadilla told CBSMiami. "Those who did not return to class after the walkout will be disciplined according to the Code of Student Conduct."
