The rising sun and risen Son Arvada West students walk out to protest gun violence

BY MACI LESH AND CHLOE RIOS ARVADA WEST HIGH SCHOOL

Students at Arvada West High School took a stance against gun violence in schools by leaving their classes and carrying neon signs to all four corners of 64th Avenue and Simms Street.

e April 5 walkout was national, organized by the group Students Demand Action. Made up of young activists in the wake of the Parkland, Florida, school shooting in 2018, Students Demand Action is, according to their website, committed to ending gun violence in our communities.

Red Rocks Amphitheatre

the perfect backdrop for Easter Sunrise Service

BY DEB HURLEY BROBST DBROBST@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

It’s not often that a band provides a soundtrack for a spectacular Colorado sunrise.

But that’s what the Conifer-based band Blood Brothers did on April 9 when they performed at Red Rocks Amphitheatre for Easter Sunrise Service. It was standing-room-only as thousands of people packed into the amphitheater for the 76thannual nondenominational service. is is the second year that Blood Brothers, led by Lance Swearengin, pastor at Conifer Community Church, provided music for the service. ey played traditional hymns like “Amazing Grace” and “Christ the Lord is Risen Today” along with some original material.

Hosted by the Colorado Council of Churches, the Christian Sunrise Service draws people from across the state and metro area to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. Gates opened at 4:30 a.m., and worshippers arrived early to nab seats with a view of the eastern horizon. As it got closer to 6:32 a.m., some moved out to the stairway to grab sel es and photos of the sunrise.

The band Blood Brothers began forming in 2015 when Swearengin, vocalist and guitarist, and his friend Josh Harwood, also a guitarist, began playing together. Drummer Taylor Mead joined next, and then Troy Steinbach on keyboards, Jay Genender on the ddle and Bob Brown on bass guitar. en vocalists Suzy Nelson and Sarah Bauer, who also has her own band, the Sarah Bauer Band, joined in.

Performing on the Red Rocks

SEE SERVICE, P6 e Columbine High School massacre in 1999 marked a notable place in history for growing gun violence in schools. After a drop

“Would you rather have us students dead or would you rather keep your guns?” said sophomore Samuel Bierbrauer, who, along with junior Izzy Sprenger, was a leader of the Wednesday event.

“ ere is always something to be done, and it starts on this street corner, protesting, and not being apathetic. Politicians have the control to do this, and make change. It is possible!” Sprenger said. roughout the day, the two marched across the streets to amplify their demands.

SEE WALK OUT, P2 in gun violence during pandemic lockdowns, violence has soared after students returned to in-person learning full time.

“With classes in session again, 42 K-12 schools experienced school shootings in 2021, and 46 endured one the next year — mirroring the nation’s broader rise in gun violence as it emerged from the pandemic,” the Washington Post reported in an April 2023 article.

With recent school shootings at e Covenant school in Nashville and at Denver’s East High School, concerns have been sparked among students nationwide and led to the walkout.

At Arvada West, junior Maggie Hodson held a sign saying “I should be worried about SATs, not my life.”

“I have a bulletproof thing in my bag, and I keep fake blood just in case,” freshman Sarah Smith who agreed with Hodson’s sign adds,”You have to prepare for these things. is is not something kids should be doing.” addeus “Alden” Berryhill, sophomore, had a passionate defense of the protest while he stood at the northeast corner of 64th and Simms.

“I am out here today, using my voice and using my voice well to spread awareness to make sure