EAST GREENBUSH, N.Y. -- A month after the deadly high school shooting in Parkland, Florida, students across the country took part in a national school walk out. More than 2,500 walkouts happened across the nation. 

Columbia High School held a "We Rise" school safety assembly Wednesday. Fourteen years ago, there was a shooting inside the school. 

Back in 2004, then 16-year-old Jon Romano, brought a shotgun to school and opened fire in a hallway.

The only person who was shot that day was special education teacher Mike Bennett.

Romano was ultimately stopped by then assistant principal John Sawchuk and taken into custody.

Bennett, along with Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul and local leaders, attended the assembly and spoke to students. The goal of the event was to discuss school safety.

"You are the ones who can make the difference. You can make the difference today," Bennett said.

Student leaders helped organize the assembly.

"We want our schools to be a safe environment. I want there to be no more mass shootings," said Lilly Hutton, a senior at Columbia High School.

This was the first time Bennett addressed a crowd of students at the high school since the shooting.