There have been 47 school shootings in the United States this year as of Sept. 15, 2025, accompanied by an increase in gun violence in general.
On Sept.10, 2025, conservative political activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University.
Earlier this summer, Melissa Hortman, a Democratic State House member, was assassinated along with her husband in a politically motivated shooting in Minnesota.
These events are causing massive outcry from both sides of the political spectrum, and have prompted action by WHHS students.
Following a school shooting on Aug. 27, 2025, at The Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, Students Demand Action (SDA), a national organization founded in 2018 after a school shooting in Parkland, Florida, organized a nationwide walkout at noon on Sept. 5.
Dalia Lopez, ‘27, Shaylin King, ‘26, and Lux Gray, ‘26, coordinated the walkout at WHHS.
“I think the walkout was not only to raise awareness but to also show our city council and also legislators that we do care,” King said, “and I hope that it will sway the [assault rifle] legislation.”
Around a hundred WHHS students participated in the walkout on Sept. 5th, where they could be heard chanting, “Protect our schools.”
“I hope the outcome is that people hear us,” Trip Daly, ‘27, said. “I hope that this starts a nationwide movement to get more schools to stand up for their rights… for their right to learn.”
Many students shared deep concerns about the rise in school shootings as well as the easy access to automatic firearms.
“Some restrictions [need to be made] on automatic firearms and weapons that could be modified into [them],” Jack Crego, ‘27, said, “because nobody needs to have a weapon that can shoot as fast as an AR-15.”
During the walkout, students also expressed their concerns about campus safety, emphasizing the widespread fear among students nationwide.
“People around the world and people around the country [need] to recognize that we’re tired of schools being places where people don’t feel safe,” Daniel Min, ‘26, said. “We want all of our students to be safe, and having a safe campus is the most important part of that.”
While many students expressed hope that the walkout would renew measures aimed at enhancing school security, not everyone shared the optimism. Some students expressed doubt about the walkout’s effectiveness in creating immediate change.
“It’s likely not going to change anything,” Crego said. “And if I’m going to make a bet, I’d say that in the next couple of years, gun laws are going to get looser, not stronger.”
Students hope their voices will be heard beyond Blair Circle and have a bigger impact in terms of school safety, not just in the city of Cincinnati or the state of Ohio, but across the country.
“We are the number one school in Ohio,” King said. “Anyone could make a statement at the high school [level], [but] coming from our high school, it means a lot.”