Hundreds of students across Minnesota walk out of class to protest racial injustice

Students across Minnesota walked out of class on Monday in a state-wide effort to make their voices heard. The students are demanding school leaders end what they call "silence over racial injustice."

Hundreds of Roseville area high school students left their classrooms just before 1 p.m. as they gathered outside the high school and then marched about a mile along Lexington Avenue to the Roseville Police Department.

Students held up signs as drivers passed by and were all wearing black in solidarity.

Jomi Omoya, a senior in the Roseville area high school, helped organize the school walk-out event.

"We are here as students to say enough is enough and we want our voices heard. We can no longer live in a world that criticizes us based on our skin color and it not ready to do anything about it," said Omoya.

As a mass amount of students across Minnesota are all participating in the event to make their voices heard, Omoya said, "It just shows how Minnesota is ready to rally together to solve this issue."

The Roseville police blocked traffic as the students crossed busy roads and up into the police parking lot, where students reflected on lives lost by police.

In Osseo, high school students also participated in the walk-out and walked to the school district headquarters.

"We’re not having no change," said Osseo High School student Darnesha Brown. "There has not been no change for our people and I am out here supporting our people."

"It just means to bring us peace because we’ve been going through a lot of violence around this city and we’re tired of it," said Isaac Stanley, another Osseo High School student. "It’s a peaceful protest; we don’t want to cause any harm, right we’re just here to speak up so you can hear our voice."

While emotional, the students say the movement is necessary.

"I feel today very empowered and I feel determined and excited for the future.. and it gives me a feeling of hope, honestly," said Omoya.