From school shooting to a walkout, how the movement unfolded

A review of the legislative changes and moments of activism.

March 14, 2018, 11:16 AM

Tragedy struck at a high school in Florida exactly one month ago, and now tens of thousands of students across the country and the world are rallying in solidarity.

Seventeen people were killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, on Feb. 14. But this school shooting is different.

The school's students have become outspoken activists, pushing for gun control. President Donald Trump has met with some of the students and faculty as well as lawmakers about what can be done to quell gun violence. Florida Gov. Rick Scott this month signed a bill that raises the legal age to buy a gun, among other restrictions.

Here's a rundown of the emotional events that transpired in the past month.

Wednesday Feb. 14: Parkland shooting

Students are brought out of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School after a shooting at the school that reportedly killed and injured multiple people on Feb. 14, 2018 in Parkland, Florida.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

A shooter opened fire at his former high school, killing 17 people and sent students running for their lives.

Student Michael Katz told ABC News he heard "screaming everywhere. I just got underneath my teacher's desk."

    The suspect, 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz, was taken into custody off campus. He slipped out of the school after the shooting by blending in with other students who were trying to escape, according to two law enforcement sources and an eyewitness.

    Fourteen students, between the ages of 14 and 18 years old, and three staff members were killed in the shooting.

    Friday Feb. 16: An emotional vigil

    People visit the temporary memorial at the amphitheater at Pine Trails Park, Parkland, Florida, Feb. 16, 2018. The memorial honors victims of a mass shooting that took place at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School that left 17 dead.
    Cristobal Herrera/EPA via Shutterstock

    Hundreds of people attended a local vigil in honor of the slain and injured victims, and it marked one of the first public calls for gun reform.

    Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel pointedly said, "If you are an elected official and you want to keep things the way they are and not do things differently, if you wanna keep the gun laws as they are now -- you will not get re-elected in Broward County."

    Wednesday Feb. 21: Looking for legislative action

    Students and their chaperones from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, wearing blue t-shirts, stand in the gallery above the Florida Senate as it held a moment of silence in honor of the victims of the mass shooting, February 21, 2018.
    Colin Hackley/Reuters

    Students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas appeared at two very different, high-profile events that had similar missions: to enact changes in gun policy.

    Students boarded buses for the six-hour trek to the state capital of Tallahassee to meet with lawmakers. But just as the students started on their journey, state lawmakers voted down a measure to ban purchases of assault rifles like the one used in the Parkland shooting.

    Several other students and families impacted by the Marjory Stoneman Douglas shooting, as well as those from a number of other mass and school shootings, gathered at the White House to participate in a listening session with Trump.

    President Donald Trump listens to Julia Cordover, center, the Parkland student body president, as she speaks during a listening session on gun violence in the State Dining Room of the White House.
    Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images

    There was the story of Samuel Zeif, a Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting survivor, who, through tears, told of frantically texting his loved ones and then realizing his brother was in a classroom on a floor above him, where the shooting was happening.

    "Let's be strong for the fallen who don't have a voice to speak anymore," said Zeif, who turned 18 the day after the shooting. "And let's never let this happen again. Please. Please."

    Thursday Feb. 22: CNN holds a town hall

    Senator Marco Rubio, left, and Congressman Ted Deutch disagree during a CNN town hall meeting at the BB&T Center, in Sunrise, Florida, Feb. 21, 2018.
    Michael Laughlin/Pool/Reuters

    CNN hosted an event at a packed arena just eight days after the shooting, with Florida Sens. Marco Rubio and Bill Nelson and others in attendance. Rubio, a Republican with a long history of support from the National Rifle Association, faced questions from angry students and parents.

    One of the most tense moments came when Parkland student Cameron Kasky asked Rubio if he would refuse future donations from the NRA. Rubio demurred, and largely avoided answering.

    Sunday Feb. 25: Returning to the school

    Parents and students arrive at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School for an open house, Feb. 25, 2018. This was the first time students returned to the school since the shooting that killed 17 students.
    David Santiago/Miami Herald via AP Photo

    While holding hands and accompanied by their parents, thousands of students returned to school for the first time after the shooting on Feb. 25 for an orientation.

    It was later revealed that Trump had lunch with NRA leaders at some point either the same day or the day before.

    Monday Feb. 26: Trump talks with governors

    President Donald Trump speaking during the 2018 White House business session with Governors, Feb. 26, 2018.
    REX/Shutterstock

    During a meeting with the nation's governors, Trump talks about the various approaches to gun reform. The conversations showed the deep conflicts held among the lawmakers, differing on views about arming teachers or raising the age limit to buy rifles, among other issues.

    Wednesday Feb. 28: Kids go back to school

    Students are greeted by law enforcement officers as they head back to school at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Feb. 28, 2018 in Parkland, Fla.
    Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP Photo

    Two weeks after the shooting, the students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas headed back to class for the first time since the shooting.

    Counselors and therapy dogs were on hand once students entered the school. The students were told that the focus wasn't going to be on schoolwork.

    As the students were attempting to return to their old schedules, Trump held a meeting with lawmakers where they discussed different approaches to gun reform. He suggested potentially raising the age limit to buy rifles, banning bump stocks, and possibly allowing to make it easier to take guns away from dangerous individuals.

    Sen. John Cornyn, left and Sen. Dianne Feinstein, right listen to President Donald Trump speak during a bipartisan round-table discussion on gun control, at the White House, Feb. 28, 2018.
    Tom Brenner/The New York Times/Redux

    While politicians worked to decide how to take action, a member of the private sector just went ahead and did it. Dick's Sporting Goods CEO Edward Stack announced that the retailer would no longer sell assault-style rifles and would not sell guns to anyone under 21 years old.

    Thursday March 1: Trump meets with the NRA again

    The day after meeting with lawmakers about possible gun law reforms -- which included suggestions that ran in the face of the NRA's preferences -- Trump tweeted that he met with NRA leaders.

    The tweet, where Trump described the meeting as "Good (Great)", was the first public disclosure of the meeting.

    Wednesday March 7: Florida House passes gun laws

    Florida State Rep. Joseph Abruzzo, left, debates the gun/school safety bill on the floor of the House, March 7, 2018 in Tallahassee.
    Scott Keeler/The Tampa Bay Times via AP Photo

    The Florida House of Representatives voted to pass a gun school safety bill spurred by the shooting.

    The bill included a mandatory 3-day waiting period to buy a gun, raised the age to buy a rifle to 21 years old and included a measure to arm some teachers and other school personnel who undergo special training sanctioned by the state. There was a provision that allows school districts that don't want to participate to opt out of the program.

    Friday March 9: Gov. Rick Scott signs the bill

    Florida Gov. Rick Scott signs the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Public Safety Act in the governor's office at the Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee, Fla., March 9, 2017.
    Mark Wallheiser/AP Photo

    The school safety bill moved from the House to the governor's desk, and on March 9, Scott signed it while surrounded by parents of the Parkland shooting victims.

    Wednesday March 14: National walkout

    Young people participate in the national school walkout over gun violence at a rally on Pennsylvania Avenue outside the White House in Washington, DC, March 14, 2018.
    Michael Reynolds/EPA via Shutterstock

    Students across the country and around the globe are coming together in a National School Walkout today to call on Congress to pass tighter gun control laws.

    Over 3,100 events are registered, according to organizers for the ENOUGH National School Walkout. The walkouts are across the nation, from Maine to Maryland, from North Dakota to North Carolina, from the White House to Washington State, and even in Hawaii and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

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