The Observation Deck

Today, 02.21.2018 students sick and tired of gun violence and violence in schools took to the streets all across the country. Lakewood High School students walked out promptly at 12:00 noon in a show of support for their fellow students and as both a protest and to stand with fellow students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland Florida. Exactly one week ago today 14 students and 3 faculty members were shot and killed by an ex-student.


Students walking out at 12 noon. (photo by Brian Foox)

The students all across America have gotten sick and tired of being afraid of going to school, from being bullied to fear of being killed, and have risen up after the recent shooting in Parkland, Florida to say enough is enough. "Stop taking blood money from the NRA" is just one of the many slogans and chants being heard and printed on signs.


TV Media speaking with some of the students. (photo by Brian Foox)

Yesterday students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School traveled 400 miles to Tallahassee, Florida to address their elected officials and push for a vote against assault rifles like the one used by the gunman that killed students and teachers. They were turned away. Today students tried to get into a discussion the president was having on gun violence and they were turned away. The students of America have said, "Enough is enough!" I for one agree.


Students gather more and more supporters as cars going by start to honk and join in. (photo by Jim O'Bryan)

Here are some photos and a video of the protest...








By 12:15 the crowd was getting pretty good sized.






Many students step forward to speak of their thoughts and fears.



Video by Jim O'Bryan...



You can see Brian Foox's photos at: http://lakewoodobserver.com/photoblogs/ ... n-violence
You can see Jim O'Bryan's photos at: http://lakewoodobserver.com/photoblogs/ ... n-violence


I would like to thank all of the students that took part, and the teachers, administration and Lakewood Police that stood by on a very peaceful, very positive protest.

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Very proud of these students.

For sure

We started off great in the late '60s-early '70s, but it's been downhill since then. It was like everyone thought no more was needed after Nixon resigned. Now it's time for boomers to step aside.

Dan Alaimo wrote:We started off great in the late '60s-early '70s, but it's been downhill since then. It was like everyone thought no more was needed after Nixon resigned. Now it's time for boomers to step aside.

I don't know if it was complacency. Consider the organizing and marshaling of the corporatist forces, led by the Birchers, the Kochs, their ilk, and their right-wing think tanks and long term "investments" that really picked up in the early 70's and then gained momentum. Ronnie Reagan and the early Supreme Court picks were their first wins in battle, maybe even the takeover of the NRA. It's been a very, very long con.

Don't step aside. Lend your wisdom to your children and their friends, and help them get after it.

Dan Alaimo wrote:We started off great in the late '60s-early '70s, but it's been downhill since then. It was like everyone thought no more was needed after Nixon resigned. Now it's time for boomers to step aside.

Mr. Alaimo,

From my perspective, the decline really started in the early '60s but later we discovered that three presidents in a row lied to us---courts made up rules as the wind blew and several generations since have grown up thinking families and laws don't matter. Now some people think thoughts and prayers don't even matter.

Brian Essi wrote:From my perspective, the decline really started in the early '60s but later we discovered that three presidents in a row lied to us---courts made up rules as the wind blew and several generations since have grown up thinking families and laws don't matter. Now some people think thoughts and prayers don't even matter.

Brian

I am curious to the three Presidents you are speaking of. From what I can remember with the singular exception of Jimmy Carter, they have all had truth issues to various degrees. Of course none have had the issues of Donald Trump.

I believe that people do not think thoughts and prayers do not matter, it is just who they come from if it matters. When the NRA gives a candidate $21 million to run for president, and that person says "The students have my thoughts and prayers" you can understand why some may say, thanks but no thanks. The NRA through legal contributions have turned a majority of our politicians on state and national level into whores. I believe America is growing tired of hearing "Oh baby you are the best, I will control guns for you..."

Trump's "plan" would call for arming 20% of the teachers, that would be more than 700,000 teachers. He also mentioned special training, which would or should be equal to police. Police miss their targets 90% of the time in active shooter confrontations which is actually pretty good Most would miss 99% of the time. However Trump has cut school safety funding, has not mentioned paying for the 700,000 hand guns or holsters, or the training, or the insurance for the teachers. Cities pays out hundreds of millions in wrongful death and shooting lawsuits. And we have not even got to the point of a military weapon is way more powerful and accurate than any handgun. People also forget there was an armed guard at Columbine, who engaged the shooter, it didn't matter. Donald Trump is a nothing more than a whore for Mr. Pimp, the NRA, let's not be their Johns anymore. Gun reform now! PS more funding for teachers, security, and mental health.

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Jim, You hit the nail on the head with your remarks.

I am proud of the students from Lakewood High (as well as Westlake, Willhougby, and Mentor) who organized the walk out and peacefully demonstrated. I would support my own children taking part in one as well, if they were doing it for the right reasons.

And...knock me over with a feather... I 100% agree with Jim above.

Jim O'Bryan wrote:

Brian Essi wrote:From my perspective, the decline really started in the early '60s but later we discovered that three presidents in a row lied to us---courts made up rules as the wind blew and several generations since have grown up thinking families and laws don't matter. Now some people think thoughts and prayers don't even matter.

Brian

I am curious to the three Presidents you are speaking of. From what I can remember with the singular exception of Jimmy Carter, they have all had truth issues to various degrees. Of course none have had the issues of Donald Trump.

I believe that people do not think thoughts and prayers do not matter, it is just who they come from if it matters. When the NRA gives a candidate $21 million to run for president, and that person says "The students have my thoughts and prayers" you can understand why some may say, thanks but no thanks. The NRA through legal contributions have turned a majority of our politicians on state and national level into whores. I believe America is growing tired of hearing "Oh baby you are the best, I will control guns for you..."

Trump's "plan" would call for arming 20% of the teachers, that would be more than 700,000 teachers. He also mentioned special training, which would or should be equal to police. Police miss their targets 90% of the time in active shooter confrontations which is actually pretty good Most would miss 99% of the time. However Trump has cut school safety funding, has not mentioned paying for the 700,000 hand guns or holsters, or the training, or the insurance for the teachers. Cities pays out hundreds of millions in wrongful death and shooting lawsuits. And we have not even got to the point of a military weapon is way more powerful and accurate than any handgun. People also forget there was an armed guard at Columbine, who engaged the shooter, it didn't matter. Donald Trump is a nothing more than a whore for Mr. Pimp, the NRA, let's not be their Johns anymore. Gun reform now! PS more funding for teachers, security, and mental health.

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I am not a member of the NRA and never will be.

I agree hey are a big part of the problem, but they are not the whole problem. Even in the best of circumstances, gun control legislation (which I am for) won't solve the problem.

Violence is a cancer. And like cancer, must be recognized as a multifactoral problem. You’ve really got to address multiple issues to get control of it.

We need equal access to health and mental health services. We need to support families. We need social services for at-risk children and families. Education appropriate for every person no matter what their abilities do that they can be functioning and productive.

And yes, we need gun control. You cannot drive without taking a drivers ed class, passing an exam and paying for a license. A car requires a licensed driver, registration, a plate, and insurance. We think nothing of it. Why are guns so “special?”