Dear CalArts Community,
Not one more.
I stand with the students, faculty, and staff at Stoneman Douglas High School, and those across the country, that we cannot allow one more child to be shot in school.
Parkland, Florida – the 18th school shooting this year. Our country is now averaging more than two school shootings per week in 2018. This epidemic is beyond grotesque, and it is incumbent upon us as citizen artists to take action and to support efforts to quite literally protect the lives of teachers and children.
Despite the horror that students, staff, and faculty at Stoneman Douglas suffered last week, they have shown remarkable courage and presence of mind to stand up and demand real change. Their resolve encourages me, and reminds us all that we have a voice in this fight.
In support of these students, the Women’s March and the March for Our Lives organizations have planned a nationwide school walkout at 10 am on March 14, 2018. I encourage everyone who wants to participate – students, faculty, and staff – to join me in this walkout.
We will gather in the Main Gallery at 9:50 am on March 14th, and at 10 am, we’ll demonstrate our support and solidarity by walking out together. The Walkout will last 17 minutes to honor the 17 students and teachers senselessly murdered last week at Douglas High.
As President of CalArts, and as a father, I am committed to this effort to end senseless gun violence. Keeping students safe while at school must become a top priority in this country, and I know that many in our community share this view. This Walkout is just the start of a much larger effort if we are to effect real change, but I believe that change is coming.
No other country in the world suffers from school shootings like the U.S., and students around this country are absolutely right when they say, not one more.