Students walk out of Colorado school shooting vigil, saying their trauma was being politicized – USA TODAY

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Students of the Colorado STEM school shooting stormed out of an “interfaith vigil,” saying their trauma was being politicized.
USA TODAY

A vigil honoring Colorado high school shooting victim Kendrick Castillo dissolved into protest late Wednesday with some students walking out and others chanting “mental health” when speakers discussed gun control.

More than 2,000 attended the vigil at STEM School Highlands Ranch High School, as STEM School Highlands Ranch students burst into a spontaneous demonstration, protesting politics and the media.

Sen. Michael Bennet and Rep. Jason Crow spoke urged support for gun control legislation, prompting students in the crowd to shout out dissenting comments such as “political stunt” and “we are people, not a statement” – to applause.

Some students walk out to the parking lot, holding up lighted cellphones and yelling expletives at media folks on the scene.

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The event, one of at least three memorials held Wednesday, was organized by the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. Afterward, the group issued a statement saying all efforts should be focused on providing support to the STEM students, families and faculty members.

“We are deeply sorry any part of this vigil did not provide the support, caring and sense of community we sought to foster and facilitate and which we know is so crucial to communities who suffer the trauma of gun violence,” the statement said.

Castillo, 18, was killed and eight students were wounded Tuesday when two teens opened fire in classrooms at the K-12 school specializing in science and math. Castillo, three days away from completing high school, and two classmates charged one of the shooters at his school. The avid hunter and fisherman was killed.

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed “red flag” legislation last month providing judges with the power to temporarily remove firearms from people believed to be at high risk of harming themselves or others.

Contributing: The Associated Press

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