State Sen. Bush leading gun-violence walkout in solidarity with students

State Sen. Melinda Bush of Grayslake is organizing a demonstration at the state Capitol to show unity with students protesting gun violence.

Bush has invited other senators and their staffers to join her in walking out of the Capitol at 10 a.m. Wednesday. That's when students across Illinois and the nation are set to leave their classrooms for 17 minutes, honoring the 17 people killed by a gunman Feb. 14 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

Students at Barrington High, Lake Park High, Libertyville High, Stevenson High, Batavia High and Mundelein High are among those planning walkouts Wednesday, March 14.

Administrators at some schools have threatened disciplinary action against students who walk out of classes or leave their buildings. At other schools, however, administrators are supporting the teens' rights to protest and viewing the demonstrations as real-life civics lessons.

Bush said she's met with students from Grayslake and the Round Lake area in recent weeks about gun violence at schools and the planned protests, and she wanted to participate.

"I stand firmly with students who exercise their constitutional right to speak out," Bush said in her invitation, which she shared with the media. "If you have heard these students and believe that we must have honest, bipartisan conversations about gun safety, I am asking you to join me in a show of solidarity."

The state Senate is in session next week. The state House is not.