Nickelodeon goes off air for 17 minutes ‘in support of kids leading the way’

Children’s network Nickelodeon paused its programming for 17 minutes on Wednesday in solidarity with students across the world who are protesting school violence. 

From 10 a.m. to 10:17 a.m., Nickelodeon broadcast the message: “In support of kids leading the way today, Nickelodeon will be off the air until 17 minutes past the the hour.”  

A number of students staged school walkouts lasting 17 minutes on Wednesday, in honor of the 17 people who died in a school shooting last month.

The channel was widely praised on social media for encouraging the dialogue about school violence and gun law reform, USA Today reported.

{mosads}Author Steve Huff on Twitter said the message made him tear up. 

“Something about the network that brought my kids Blue’s Clue sticking with the young people who are watching it and Nick Jr. as toddlers is really moving.” 

Why did Nickelodeon going off the air in support of #NationalWalkoutDay make me tear up? Something about the network that brought my kids Blue’s Clues sticking with the young people who were watching it and Nick Jr. as toddlers is really moving.

— STEVE HUFF (@SteveHuff) March 14, 2018

Dan Ward, a Congressional candidate in Virginia, said lawmakers do not have the same “moral courage” as a television network. 

When Nickelodeon has more moral courage than your Congressman… pic.twitter.com/3vfdr42YNK

— Dan Ward (@DanWardVA07) March 14, 2018

But not every parent was pleased with the decision to cut off the airing of “Paw Patrol.”

One mom who goes by RavenPatriot on Twitter slammed the network because the lack of programming made her kids cry.

“Don’t drag my toddlers into this!” she tweeted. 

During the airing of PawPatrol on Nickelodeon this popped up. Not only did both of my little ones start crying because they don’t know why the one show I let the watch in the morning was not on but @Nickelodeon you pissed this Mom off! Don’t drag my toddlers into this! pic.twitter.com/hSm9fAVJHy

— RavenPatriot (@cheechablunt) March 14, 2018

Nickelodeon was joined in its programming pause by other Viacom cable networks, including MTV, BET and Comedy Central. 

Students also took over MTV’s social media accounts during the walkout. 

The national walkouts were held one month after the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, where 17 people died on Feb. 14.