Students gathered outside the front of Sequim High School for 17 minutes today, Wednesday, March 14, to support the National School Walkout scheduled at 10 a.m. this morning.

About 100 students promoted gun control policy, some holding signs while others sported bright orange — a color meant to send a message about gun reform, dating back to the death of 15-year-old Hadiya Pendleton who was killed in 2013 in a case of mistaken identity. CNN reported her parents picked the color orange because it is what hunters wear in the woods to protect themselves and others from harm, and chose it to honor the death of their daughter and call for gun reform.

There were about 10 students who opposed those standing in solidarity with gun control reform, and stood across those students in front of the high school and held their own signs that read, “I stand with the NRA” and “Why Gun Control Does Not Work.”

Sequim High School junior Trey Brouillard held a sign during the walkout that read “Arm Teachers with Counselors.”

“I’m usually really outspoken about things like this,” Brouillard said.

“It’s not okay for kids that have mental illnesses to get guns and teachers shouldn’t be armed. We need more resources and counselors.”

In support of the walkout, more than 20 parishioners with St. Luke’s Episcopal Church walked along North Fifth Avenue with signs at 10 a.m. advocating for more gun control. One parishioner held a sign with more than 70 signatures from church members who couldn’t attend the event.

The church bell also rang 17 times for each of the victims in the Parkland, Fla., school shooting on Feb. 14.

Read more about the student demonstration in the March 21 edition of the Sequim Gazette.