2018's top stories: Colfax students walk out in wake of gun violence, others stay inside

On a rainy Wednesday, March 14, an estimated 60 students walked out of third-hour class at Colfax Junior-Senior High School as part of a national student reaction to the Parkland, Fla., school shooting that killed 17 people a month before.

Kiah Miller and Ariel Grimaud, members of the class of 2018, organized the Colfax event – which was coordinated with permission by Superintendent Jerry Pugh and Principal Carrie Lipe.

Addressing the students from the main school steps outside, Miller read a letter that she would offer for students to sign, to go to area political representatives, saying that the individual reasons for walking out may be different for each student who participated.

"Most of us don't even know what we truly believe the answer is, only that gun violence, particularly in schools, needs to stop now," she read.

Class went on around the school, with 230 or so students remaining inside.

Dozens of students outside then returned to the foyer where copies of Miller's letter were laid out to sign.

Copies were sent to Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Senator Maria Cantwell, Patty Murray and state representatives.

A student walkout also occurred that day at Pullman High School, with no others reported in Whitman County.