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 and universities this Wednesday as part of a coordinated national demonstration 

 Feb. 14, 2018, at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. 
Since then, students across the country have led a number of demonstrations and marches in support of gun control. 

Here's what you need to know about Wednesday's walkout and what's up next.  

Which local students are participating?

Students rally at Minnesota Capitol

Anger over gun violence drives Minneapolis student walkout

Organizers from Women's March Youth Empower have called for a 

 at 10 a.m. local time Wednesday. That day marks one month since the shooting in Parkland, while each of the 17 minutes will honor the students and staff members killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. 

More national demonstrations are planned in upcoming weeks:  The 

 for school safety is expected to draw hundreds of thousands to the nation's capital on March 24, its organizers said. And another round of school walkouts is planned for 

 the 19th anniversary of the Columbine High School shooting in Colorado.

Gun control advocates say lawmakers haven't done enough to stem mass shootings and end school violence. 

 in the U.S. have occurred in the last decade. 

Momentum appears to be on their side. Florida has a reputation for expanding gun rights but on Friday, Gov. Rick Scott signed a 

 that broke with the National Rifle Association. The bill raises the minimum age to buy rifles from 18 to 21 and extends a three-day waiting period for handgun purchases to include long guns and bans bump stocks, which allow guns to mimic fully automatic fire. It also creates a so-called guardian program enabling some teachers and other school employees to carry guns. 

The NRA has filed a lawsuit to block the provision that raises the age to buy guns, arguing it violates the Second Amendment. 

Trump backs off push for raising assault rifle purchase age

Dayton backs $21M to boost school safety, student mental health

Will students be disciplined for leaving class?

The American Civil Liberties Union has fielded hundreds of inquiries about whether students can be punished for leaving class. The answer is yes — but 

 is discipline students more harshly for protesting than if a student were missing class for another reason. 

https://twitter.com/ACLU/status/973228314755321856

Some schools have taken a hard line, promising to suspend students who walk out, while others are using a softer approach, working with students to set up places on campus where they can remember the victims of the Florida shooting and express their views about school safety and gun control. 

How school walkouts test student rights and school responsibilities

 his school will remain neutral about the walkout. Students who decide to participate in the walkout will be allowed to leave classes at 10 a.m. and gather in the east parking lot where the school will provide supervision and security.

Students are expected to return to class on time for next period starting at 10:35 a.m., he said.

"Consequences of the attendance policy will apply to students who do not return to class on time or leave the EHS campus during the school day without parent permission," Beaton said in a letter to parents.

scheduled to take place at these schools,

 as of Tuesday. Organizer Women's March Youth Empower reports more than 2,850 walkouts are planned.  

• Moorhead High School; Moorhead, Minn. 

• Grand Forks Central High School; Grand Forks, N.D. 

• TrekNorth Junior and Senior High School

• Benilde-St. Margaret's, St. Louis Park

• Brimhall Elementary School, Roseville

• Como Park Senior High School; St. Paul

• Creative Arts Secondary School; St. Paul

• Highland Park Senior High School; St. Paul

• Lyndale Community School, Minneapolis

• Mound-Westonka High School; Minnetrista

• Simley High School; Inver Grove Heights

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Nancy Yang

Author

Students and teachers are expected walk out of their classes for 17 minutes to honor the victims of last month's school shooting in Florida and to call for tougher gun-control laws.

Students join in chants admonishing gun violence and the NRA

Evan Frost | MPR News

A student holds a sign referencing the 17 students killed in Parkland

Hundreds of high school students occupy the steps of the State Capitol

What you need to know about the national school walkout Wednesday

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