On the morning of August 27th, 2025, the Twin Cities were changed forever.
Shortly before 8:30 a.m. a shooting occurred at Church of the Annunciation during a welcome back to school mass. Two children, Fletcher Merkel and Harper Moyski, were killed and thirty others were injured. As Annunciation is less than ten miles away from Cretin-Derham Hall, students found out almost immediately. While some students felt scared, stuck, and unsure of what to do, others soon decided to take action. Ellen Kovats ‘26 and Mary Jensen ‘26 created an Instagram account with the name, Students Demand Action (CDH), a name similar to the student walkout accounts that are used to follow the National Students Demand Action Walkout.
With support from all grades, a strong group of students walked out of school on the fifth of September. The group carried signs and was joined by some individuals from surrounding private schools such as Saint Paul Academy. They walked to the intersection of Montreal and Albert, passing a tournament at the Highland Nine Golf Course on the way, receiving honks of support and a following Saint Paul police car.
Senior Haydee Walz had this to say about the walkout, “The walkout was so important to me because we as students want to show that we care and that we want change. It’s a way to come together, raise awareness, and demand safer schools and communities. It’s about standing up for safety, respect and the right to learn without fear.” Haydee helped to create various signs to promote the cause on the day of the walkout.
Highland Park High School met with CDH at the intersection, creating one large group. A news interviewer was present and you can find articles online of CDH students’ statements. Now joined by a megaphone, the students chanted various chants such as “no more silence, end gun violence”, “hey hey ho go assault weapons have to go”, and “thoughts and prayers are not enough”.
The progression continued to West 7th where the united group of students held signs on the corner. After an hour the Highland students left for school again, leaving the CDH students to return to school.
The day did not end here. With multiple posts from personal accounts and the CDH Students Demand Action, people’s photos were reposted by the Nation Students Demand Action account. While across the United States student walkouts concerning gun violence continue, the CDH community continues to remember the effect on our own community. Around the neighborhoods you can still find blue and green ribbons tied to trees, signs, and light poles, keeping the memory of the Annunciation School shooting in the minds of those in the community every day.
