De Blasio Stands By Student Walkout

Students across the country are planning a 17-minute walk out on March 14 to mark the one-month anniversary of the deadly school shooting in Florida. In New York City, Mayor Bill de Blasio said he stands by them.

"We're certainly ready for that, I respect it. If I was a high school student today, I'd be walking out," de Blasio said at an unrelated press conference Thursday.

Parents and guardians must alert schools if they are giving their children permission to participate. High school students with permission will not be disciplined, according to the Department of Education.

After delivering a State of the City address calling on people to engage with their democracy, de Blasio said it would be hypocritical if he tried to stop this.

He also dismissed President Trump's suggestion to arm teachers, speaking as a parent of two children who attended the city’s public schools.

"The last thing I want to see is more guns in our schools," said de Blasio.

That sentiment was echoed by United Federation of Teachers president Michael Mulgrew. He said teachers should be "marking papers, not being trained in marksmanship."

Earlier in the day, National Rifle Association president Wayne LaPierre called out de Blasio and other officials by name as Democrats who are politicizing the gun control debate.

The mayor responded to LaPierre directly, accusing him of being one of the people responsible for this massacre.

Drawing a distinction between the views of NRA members and its leaders, de Blasio urged the membership to overthrow the organization's leadership.