WIMBERLEY, Texas -- Friday, just before 10 a.m., dozens of students walked out of Wimberley High School.
They held signs that read things such as "Enough is Enough" and "Am I next?"
After students across the nation participated in National School Walkout Day on March 14, now it was Wimberley H.S. students' turn.
"It's terrifying to have three cops in your school for the threat of a school shooting," said Gabi Perez.
Perez, a sophomore, organized the event.
"It's insane to think about the place we go to learn and the place we go to grow as individuals is the place that could be the most fatal for us," said Perez.
She felt the need for change after the school shooting in Parkland, Florida.
"We really realized that this is real. All the things we've been preparing for our whole lives -- countless lock-down drills, like seminars on school safety -- have been about ultimately school shootings," said Perez.
Students released 17 balloons in honor of those who lost their lives.
"Oh gosh I'm so proud of her, her courage, her spirit to really honor those kids," said Claudia Perez.
Several parents came out in support Friday morning, including Gabi's mom, Claudia.
"Honestly I felt so bad. I had no idea how she really felt after that speech that everyday she looks around (and thinks) where do I hide," said Claudia.
Gabi worked with her school administration to plan the walkout.
"I really do like going to school here, so I thought it would be a great way to respect my administration by letting them know what I was planning to do," said Gabi.
"Activities like this is what really teaches them what democracy is all about, and you don't have to go burn down a building to make a statement," said Superintendent Dwain York.
Claudia agrees.
"I'm so grateful that they saw this as an opportunity to start the conversation. We did not know that the conversation was going to be so heated -- but it's good, I think we need this conversation," said Claudia.
But, unlike several other walkouts across the country, Gabi and York decided this event would focus on school safety, not on political views.
"I think that's the route we took today -- focus on school safety and the individual feelings of students," said Gabi.
York said they brought in extra law enforcement to make sure everyone was safe.
"Of course anytime you have an event like this, there has to be a lot of planning," said York.
Across the street, some students and parents had a different point of view.
Billy Mantooth said he wants to make sure school safety doesn't mean taking away the second amendment.
"There's other ways to keep the kids safe than taking the weapons from law abiding citizens," said Mantooth. "We deserve the right to protect ourselves."
And while he supports students voicing their opinion, he doesn't think a walkout is the way.
"They should, but on their own time," said Mantooth.
Even though they're on different sides of the street, and may be on different sides of an issue -- it seems everyone here still has the same goal.
"The kids should be safe, that's the main point," said Mantooth.
"This is not one side or the other -- kids are dying," said Claudia.
"I want people to take away that you shouldn't discount the voices of teenagers and students. Just because we might not be adults -- we have a voice and we deserve to be heard, and especially in this context we're the ones getting killed," said Gabi.