Students turn their backs on White House in gun protest

Hundreds of students turned their backs on the White House Wednesday as part of a nationwide school walkout to protest gun violence.

The students plan to hold 17 minutes of silence to honor the 17 people who died when a gunman opened fire last month at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., according to MSNBC.

Students protesting gun violence, in front of the White House. Listen to the silence. pic.twitter.com/2ViDlJb0HX

— Jeff Mason (@jeffmason1) March 14, 2018

Moment of silence in DC. Hundreds of students giving their backs to the White House #NationalWalkoutDay @MSNBC @NBCNews pic.twitter.com/hfYBlre6pm

— Mariana_Atencio (@marianaatencio) March 14, 2018

Gun control has become a central issue since the Florida school shooting last month.

Students have been leading the charge, rallying lawmakers and calling for change.

Students across the country are walking out of their schools Wednesday — one month after the Feb. 14 Florida shooting — to demand lawmakers pass new gun laws to make their schools safer.

A march has also been planned for later this month in Washington, D.C., to continue the effort.