Summit High School sophomore Jazzper Madans said he and many of his classmates found out about a walkout protesting gun violence a day before it happened, but the turnout for the event ended up being significant. 

Summit High School students said at least a couple hundred students walked out of the school the afternoon of Wednesday, Sept. 17, around 1:30 p.m. as a part of a movement to protest gun violence following the Evergreen High School shooting. On Wednesday, Sept. 10, a student fired 20 rounds in and outside of the high school, which Summit High School competes against in some sports, and injured two students before killing himself. One student remains in critical condition, according to the Denver Post. Students at several schools in Colorado protested gun violence Wednesday and throughout last week, including over 100 Denver-area students who gathered on the west steps of the Colorado State Capitol before marching through downtown streets Wednesday, according to Denver 7 News.

Summit students said this felt close to home since many have friends and family who live in Evergreen. Sophomore Oliver Westervelt, who has a younger cousin living in Evergreen, remembers being in theater tech class on Sept. 10 when the news broke. He said a classmate began crying because she had friends that attended the school. 

“After Evergreen, a lot of Summit High School students got the impression that none of it’s over and (were nervous that) it’s close to us,” Madans said. “I feel like a lot of people felt like we were safer because of the laws and demographics up here, and that kind of shattered that (feeling) for a lot of people.” 

He said part of the reason he and other students across the state participated in this walkout is because they don’t want a reality where schools have to prepare students for shootings — they want a reality where students don’t even have to worry about that. 

“The fact that students have to worry more about their safety than their grades is a symbol that we’re doing something wrong,” he said.

Junior Michaela McConnell said she participated in the walkout because school is a space where students spend a bulk of their time, and they deserve to feel safe. She and others said they ultimately want gun control. Madans says he worries about the presence of guns in Summit County homes due to how popular hunting is and how they might be accessible to children living in those homes. 

Students who participated expressed feeling safe and supported by teachers and administrative staff during the walkout, and they said they felt understood. 

“We (weren’t) encouraging participation, but we’re committed to upholding our students’ constitutional rights. … We recognize that students have the right to engage in peaceful expression, as long as it doesn’t cause substantial disruption,” Summit Schools District director of communications Kerstin Anderson said.

Anderson said the district saw attendance district-wide drop around 30% the week of Monday, Sept. 8, due to community discussions regarding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity and rumors of an operation on Sept. 11. Westervelt said that trend appears to persist, and many of his classmates continue to not attend school out of fear.

Anderson said officials want to acknowledge the emotions students are feeling and want to promote a sense of safety and well-being for students. Alongside a commitment to fostering a safe environment, she said the district is also committed to academic achievement, and attendance plays a role in that.