Winnetonka students participate in a walkout to show their support for equality for all races.

This growth has emerged as events unfold to reveal racism in America. From the 1963 Civil Rights Movement to the murder of Rodney King in 1991 to the murder of Anthony Lamar Smith, and most recently, the deaths of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd.

Racism has been around since before World War One in 1914. This was not a sudden occurrence. People are angry and ready to take a stand in order to make a change.

On Friday, November 13, Winnetonka High school students participated in a walkout. According to a survey, 55.56% of students said they would be attending the walkout.

By definition, a walkout is a sudden angry departure, especially as a protest or strike. However, that definition is not accurate in this instance. #BlackLivesMatter is not a new movement. For many it wasn’t a sudden feeling. It was a feeling that has grown over time.

Just since 2015, police have shot nearly 250 women resulting in their deaths. Just like Breonna Taylor, 89 of them were killed in their homes or in places where they resided. Police brutality is outrageous. The people who are supposed to be keeping us safe are the people beating and murdering our families. Police aren’t all bad, some go rogue and have sickening thoughts. Police need to spend more time being trained before being sent out into the work field.

Florence Nightingale helped revolutionize the way patients were treated based on her experience in the Crimean war. Just like with Nightingale, one person’s actions can impact civilization as we know it. Martin Luther King was a civil rights leader. He paved the way for an equal nation. His dream has not been lost. Rosa Parks sat for her rights. Her actions, seemingly simple, inspired future leaders and activists.

All of these people, ordinary people like us made a major change just by making their stand in what they believe in which is exactly what Winnetonka students are doing.

People say All lives matter, I believe that, but the situation at hand is discrimination to African American and people of the black race community. If all lives really matter to you then don’t black lives? All lives can’t matter until black lives do. All live can’t matter until there is justice for all victims.

What can you do to make a change? What’s stopping you? Take a stand for what you believe in… make a difference in the world. You don’t have to be famous or have a high reputation. Anne Frank was only a child, an ordinary girl, but even today people are still inspired by her. Let our generation inspire the ones to come.

You are enough, you can make a change! Support the surrounding people.

“If you believe in a cause, be willing to stand up for that cause with a million people or by yourself,” Otis S. Johnson said.