MADISON (WKOW) -- Many students from across Madison will walk out of class Wednesday and gather at Madison East High School to march in solidarity to the state capitol building to demand stricter gun legislation.
Students from West, La Follette and Memorial high schools are among those who will head to Madison East around 11 a.m.
Then at 12 p.m., students will begin the march down East Washington Avenue towards the Capitol building and join state legislators, activists, parents and fellow students who will share stories of gun violence and demand stricter gun laws.
Madison schools Superintendent Jennifer Cheatham sent a letter to parents saying, she values students raising their voices but warns students should do so safely.
“This is where parents, community partners, police, we need caring adults to make sure students are able to express their opinions in a safe way,” said Supt. Cheatham. "We want parents to know what their child is choosing to do, if they're choosing to participate they have a plan, to make sure they're child is doing so safely."
Supt. Cheatham says the district is not sponsoring or supervising the demonstrations.
She says students who do choose to participate, must be excused by a parent or guardian to avoid an unexcused absence, per attendance policy.
Madison police tells 27 News that they will deploy their special events team to make sure marchers move safely down East Washington Avenue.
The march is expected to impact traffic, the city says multiple lanes of Westbound East Washington will likely be closed between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Drivers are being asked to use alternate routes during that time.
For more on this story: http://www.wkow.com/story/37720988/2018/03/14/madison-students-plan-march-to-state-capitol-wednesday