Just a few weeks after the “March for Our Lives” protests, the students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School have returned to classes after spring break. But this doesn’t mean that their political action has come to an end; instead, they’re continuing a fight that trescends the issue of gun violence — and has even started to concern women’s health rights.
As a response to the shooting on February 14, the students of MSD are now required to bring clear backpacks to school. While this policy attempts to prevent future gun-related tragedy, students have taken to the media, especially Twitter to condone the new rule. Many commented how the new backpacks feel like an invasion of privacy, especially in a school environment with increased security and police presence.
My new backpack is almost as transparent as the NRA’s agenda.
I feel sooo safe now.
As much as I appreciate the effort we as a country need to focus on the real issue instead of turning our schools into prisons. #clearbackpacks #MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/HqBIeGjzF9
— Lauren Hogg (@lauren_hoggs) April 2, 2018
“It feels like being punished,” senior Isabelle Robinson told CNN. “It feels like jail, being checked every time we go to school.”
Sophomore Daniel Bishop commented on his disappointment in the government as legal action, even post-march, seems weak against the prevention of gun violence.
“There’s still that sense of melancholy, because what’s going to happen from this?” Bishop said. “It’s not like there was a magical bill that was passed that fixed all the things after the march. That didn’t happen.
“I mean, no one feels safe,” he said. “Who feels safe in Parkland, Florida? No one.”
In the midst of terror, grief, and frustration, one of the students has taken the issue to focus on women’s health. Cameron Kasky, a co-founder of the “March For Our Lives” campaign, filled his backpack with tampons in an effort to demonstrate the pressure of the newly-enforced transparency.
#MSDStrong pic.twitter.com/kKn1saUDTC
— Cameron Kasky (@cameron_kasky) April 3, 2018
His selfie was followed by a reflective Twitter message illustrating his newfound awareness after attending school with the filled backpack.
To those with questions about my tampon backpack-
I only got lights. I didn’t know. Getting supers for tomorrow.
Sizes, pricing… I’m learning new things about women’s health right now. This stuff is expensive. Steps must be taken to make these health products easier to access
— Cameron Kasky (@cameron_kasky) April 3, 2018
Kasky’s efforts have been applauded by female communities, especially concerning the time-old period stigma and the debate on the “tampon tax”, which taxes feminine hygiene products as luxuries rather than the necessities they are.
And while it’s just one backpack in the sea of a school that has been changed forever, we applaud Kasky’s efforts in a time of political inaction and need. Thank you, Cameron.