RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Thousands of Virginia students are expected to hold a rally at the State Capitol as part of a nationwide protest against school violence on the 19th anniversary of the Columbine High School massacre.
The National School Walkout has been organized in response to the Feb. 14 mass shooting in Parkland, Florida, that left 17 students and faculty members dead.
Students across the country are planning to leave their schools at 10 a.m. Friday.
In Virginia, students plan to host a voter registration drive on Brown's Island in Richmond, then march to the State Capitol for a rally that will include Gov. Ralph Northam and state legislators.
Student organizer Maxwell Nardi said the students hope to work with lawmakers to "create a unified message that we're going to fight this together."
