On Monday, December 14, Westmont High School theatre students participated in #ENOUGH, a nationwide reading of plays meant to address gun violence in America. The read-along, which was held eight years to the date of the Sandy Hook Elementary school shooting, featured plays written by high school students that tackle gun violence through different lenses, from the threat of and anxiety over school shootings, police shootings, community violence, race, and gun culture in American history.
The powerful hour of students performing these emotional plays sparked important conversations about gun violence among the students. After each play was performed, students wrote their reactions in the Zoom chat comments. Many of the performances were described by students as emotional, powerful and relatable through the eyes of students.
"We can't talk about gun violence in America only in the aftermath of the most tragic incidents," says Michael Cotey, producer of #ENOUGH, "Through the Nationwide Reading we're allowing every community to create the space and address the impact of gun violence now."
Thank you to Westmont High School theatre teacher Jeff Bengford for creating a space for students to express themselves through these performances and thank you to the students for being open to being vulnerable enough to have these important conversations in our school communities.
For more information on the #ENOUGH movement, click here.