The students who walked out of classrooms Wednesday to memorialize the one-month anniversary of the Florida school shooting are looking for ways to continue the momentum for change.
The high schoolers crowded the Capitol lawn and the governor’s office to demand meetings with lawmakers and gun reform efforts.
They also faced criticism and ridicule from online commenters, mostly adults.
That won’t stop the students from fighting for change, said 16-year-old organizer Jacob Martinez.
“We know what we’re doing and we know how to reach out these people,” Martinez said. “That’s what it comes down to is kind of these grassroots efforts.”
Martinez said he resigned from chair of the Arizona Teen Republicans group because he’s become disillusioned with the two-party system.
“I don’t know if it’s a third party, or if it’s just slapping some common sense into these two parties to stop being so polar and to work together, because that’s what it is, they just don’t want to compromise.”
Martinez said he’s still a Republican, though, and will continue his efforts through an independent politically-minded group.