“It could have been us.”

Those are the words from a poster high school junior Victoria Scott carried on Friday afternoon at the regional high school walkout to honor victims of the recent school shooting in Parkland, Fla.

“My heart really goes out to all the students and families and friends that were affected by it,” she said.

Last week, a gunman entered Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and killed 17 people. Young survivors of that shooting have since mobilized, igniting a national movement among students to end mass shootings.

The words on Victoria’s sign were grave, but she said she felt empowered participating in the demonstration. Victoria was in English class when she heard the announcement at 1:45 p.m. announcing it was time to head outside. She and hundreds of other students gathered in the cafeteria, then made their way out to the football field as it began to rain.

Students gathered on the football field and the regional high school flag was flown at half mast. — Alison L. Mead

Sophomores Amelia Craig and Annabelle Cutrer hadn’t ever been activists before Friday. They collaborated to make a poster that said “Fear has no place in our schools.” Around that phrase, they wrote the names and ages of each of the victims of the Stoneman Douglas shooting.

“It’s just scary not knowing where you’re safe,” said Amelia.

They were both inspired by the voices of high school students who survived the Florida shooting.

“It’s cool to hear them speak out,” Annabelle said.

“Especially because it’s so hard for them,” Amelia added.

State Rep. Dylan Fernandes and state Sen. Julian Cyr were both on the Island for other meetings and attended the demonstration to show their support. Oak Bluffs police were present for security. The flag outside the high school flew at half staff.

Avalon Weiland, Annabelle Cutrer, Amelia Craig and Violet Cabot spoke loudly with their signs. — Alison L. Mead

Superintendent Matthew D’Andrea, assistant superintendent Richard Smith, high school principal Sara Dingledy, and many teachers watched the procession, but this was a student-led moment.

Junior class president Owen Engler and vice president Mackenzie Condon addressed the crowd from the announcer’s microphone, calling for a moment of silence.

“All of us here at this school including the students, including the teachers, and including the parents are all standing here in unification by the fact that we agree something should be done,” Owen said to the crowd. He noted that all of the students gathered on the field would be of voting age in the next few years. “We have a voice that deserves to be heard,” he said.

The Vineyard students will be sending a picture of their gathering to the students at Stoneman Douglas high school in Florida.

“It is the students that are in the driver’s seat now and no one is backing down until the demands are met,” Mackenzie told the Gazette after the demonstration. “With everyone showing up today it shows that we too, as a student body, are a part of the enormous group of advocates all over the country.”