This petition is being put in order due to the suppression of students at Smithfield-Selma High School in Johnston County, North Carolina. While most schools in the country were partaking in the walkout at 10:00 AM, the staff of Smithfield Selma were forcing students to stay in their classrooms, or if they wanted to opt out of the activity they were sent to the auditorium. The principal of the school walked the students through a ‘spiritual journey’ of the school, including minimal to no inclusion of the real problem- the mass shooting that happened in Parkland a month ago. When students tried to walk out, they were told no. A certain student got into a literal encounter with the security guard where she was physically prevented from leaving the school. This is inexcusable. This was a clear violation of our right to peaceful protest, and we should not stand for it. The entire alternative to walking out that the school put in place contained about one minute total of actual remembrance of Parkland. This walkout was meant to be a student run call to the people of America that we stand with the victims, but my school turned it into something it just should not have been.