Lake County Gazette

Parents are questioning the recent walkout of students at Lake Forest High School over a gun control protest. 

“LFHS - 61% of students can read at grade level, 64% can do math at grade level. Could there be a better photographic representation of ‘I don't know why the hell I'm out here, just glad to be cutting class’?" Melanie Finch said on Facebook. “Here's an idea: Use some of that $105.7 million referendum you want for improvements to the LFHS building to hire armed security. Problem solved.” 

Finch’s comments came as students at Lake Forest High School staged a walkout on April 6 in what the Chicago Tribune said was a protest calling for a national gun ban. Illinois State Sen. Julie Morrison (D-Highwood) was present at the protest. Lake Forest High School administrators denied organizing the walkout. 

“LFHS does not condone or condemn any student’s participation in any student peaceful demonstration,” Lake Forest Hugh School said in an email, according to Yahoo! News.

Lake County Moms Demand Action led the student protest that was joined by adults from outside the school. Students Demand Action posted a note on social media demanding that “action be taken against gun violence that plagues schools in America.” 

Members of the school’s Human Rights Club organized the walkout after a student was alleged to have brought a gun to school at Highland Park High School. The school club behind the walkout was recently asked to erase a pride flag and a BLM slogan from a storefront mural they drew at a local restaurant after it prompted complaints. “[The owner] said that she didn’t want to be in the middle of something that could potentially be politicized,” Activities Director Mrs. Ashleigh Malec told the Forest Scout.

A juvenile was charged with possession of a firearm and disorderly conduct after Highland Park High School was locked down on Election Day, April 4, according to Amanda Bennett, the city's communications manager, ABC7 Chicago reported.  The lockdown affected local polling places. 

"Please be advised of a heavy police presence at Highland Park High School. HPHS has been placed on lockdown due to a report of a student potentially in possession of a gun at school. There are no reported shots fired,” the lockdown notice from Lake County Clerk Anthony Vega read.