AUSTIN, Texas – Friday, April 20 marked 19 years since students and teachers were shot and killed at Columbine High School in Colorado.

Thousands of students coast-to-coast left class to honor the victims and protest gun violence.

While students protested in support of the National School Walkout, not all of the school districts were on board. The Austin Independent School District gave students an unexcused absence as soon as they left the classroom.

Eighteen-year-old Cecilia Cosby helped organize the event. 

She's a student at St. Stephen’s in Austin and has only read about Columbine. She wasn’t old enough to see the panic, to feel the heartache, but the fear from that day resonates with them 19 years later.

"After these shootings were happening, everyone was asking, 'Why is this happening?' And as they kept occurring people were then asking, 'When is this going to stop?'" Cosby said. 

Within the large crowd of students was an overwhelming need to fight for change. They want safer schools and stricter gun laws, something they’re prepared to fight for.

"If you believe in something you have to show up and show out for it," said Hattie Lindell, an 18-year-old student.

And show up they did.

"We have some as young as 14 in the group helping organize it and it was so inspiring to be at that first meeting," Cosby said. 

Thousands bused to a park in downtown Austin Friday, facing unexcused tardies from their schools.

The group then chanted through the streets to the Capitol.

"The minors here today are showing more action and morality than some in our Congress," said student and speaker, Olivia Hoffman.

Their message to lawmakers was clear: listen or lose at the polls.

"If you want the youth vote, you wouldn't ignore this because that just doesn't work," said James Young, a student.

Friday’s nationwide gun violence protest is the second in one month. The Valentine's Day massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, triggered outrage among students across the country to take action and call for tighter gun control and campus safety.

 Austin schools that participated in #NationalSchoolWalkout: