Students across country, including San Francisco, take on the NRA
Wednesday promises to be one of the biggest walkouts in school history as thousands of students leave class on the one month anniversary of Florida's high-school shooting.
Part protest, part memorial, young people are demanding safer schools and gun reform legislation.
"I think the NRA has finally met their match, the young people in this country," said San Francisco School Board Commissioner Matt Haney, at the school board meeting Tuesday evening.
Across the country, some schools are utilizing the walkout to encourage dialogue on the issue.
Others are not sanctioning it in any way, and threatening to punish students who take part.
San Francisco plans to seize the moment, even adopting a student-led resolution in support.
"Every day that my children go to school, this is the biggest worry that I have," said Board President Hydra Mendoza-McDonnell, "and this is not where we should be worried about our kids."
Called the #ENOUGH walkout, the action begins at 10 a.m., and lasts for 17 minutes, to honor the 17 students and teachers killed in Parkland, Florida on Feb 14.
"We will stand in solidarity not just with Parkland, but victims of Sandy Hook, of Columbine, Orlando and Las Vegas," said student Stephen Gong, addressing the Board.
Gong is the president of the Lowell High School Student Association.
"Change is coming," he told the commissioners, "and you are showing students, staff, and principals, that yes you care."
The national event is organized by EMPOWER, the youth branch of the Women's March.
Their demands include universal background checks for gun sales, a ban on assault weapons, and a restraining order law that would enable courts to remove guns from people with violent tendencies.
Students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School have given momentum to the campaign, becoming vocal after their school massacre, and insisting that young people have a voice on the issues.
In some communities, activities are planned, even in elementary and middle schools, with discussions and lessons on social change and the political process.
Districts everywhere have grappled with what repercussions, if any, should come from students who expand the protest beyond 17 minutes.
"If they decide to leave campus, that is up to them, we're not going to stop them," San Francisco Superintendent Vincent Matthews told KTVU.
San Francisco students plan to march to City Hall, arriving at 11:30 a.m., for speeches on the steps.
Dr. Matthews would prefer, for their own safety, they remain on campus where rally areas have been designated for them.
"That's why we've provided these spaces for students to have conversations, about what they believe, and what they believe should be done with guns."
Two students on the board's advisory council, Chanun Ong and Kyither Min, read their gun safety resolution aloud, prior to its unanimous adoption.
"Your organizing and your efforts are going to have lasting impacts, and I'm proud of you, " Commissioner Mark Sanchez told them.
"Eventually, the NRA is going to go down, and it's going to be with the leadership of our youth."
Further actions are planned in opposition to gun violence.
On March 24, "March for our Lives" will be held in Washington DC, with satellite marches everywhere.
Another national school walkout is set for April 20 to mark 19 years since the massacre in Columbine, Colorado.