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