Elementary school students and teachers from New Highland Academy in Oakland marched to the local library Thursday ... with a police escort. They used to take the six-block walk every third Thursday, but gun violence in the neighborhood halted the monthly outings.
The group marched wearing signs around their neck that said "Peace. Love. Books." and chanting, "What do we want? Peace!"
Armed escorts from the Oakland Police Department kept watch.
New Highland Academy teacher Donald Carter said the trips to the library stopped after a shooting near the library last month, which his class heard as they were getting ready for the walk over.
"We heard a series of shots in the distance, toward the library," Carter said. "We decided it would not be wise to continue. We were locked down - the entire school - for over an hour."