Student walkouts over gun violence has led to discussion, debate and elevated emotions across the nation.

Whidbey Island is no exception.

About a thousand people commented on a Whidbey News-Times Facebook post about Oak Harbor High School students participating in the 17-minute National School Walkout, which was both a protest and a memorial to the 17 people killed in the shooting at the high school in Parkland, Fla.

Unfortunately, many of the comments are inappropriately critical of these students who were exercising their Constitutional rights to peaceful assembly and to free speech.

The students were called “sheep,” “idiots” and “Tide pod eaters.” One commenter even made a Hitler comparison.

Students’ on South Whidbey had a much different experience. There, a large group of parents supported the students and joined the walkout.

On Thursday evening, government officials took part in a student-led community forum at Whidbey Island Center for the Arts about how to make schools safer.

Nonetheless, our sister newspaper, the South Whidbey Record heard from people who think the students were wrong to express themselves.

People may not agree with the students’ message, and they have every right to stand up for the Second Amendment and argue that gun control measures infringe on their rights.

In fact, it’s important for the students, and community, to hear other points of view. People shouldn’t be criticized for expressing opinions shared in an intelligent, respectful manner.

Nobody, however, should attack or belittle young people for exercising their rights, expressing opinions and trying to make their world a better, safer place.

The protests, and discussion that followed, are a valuable lesson in democracy, civility and civil rights. We hope the students don’t give up because of inappropriate comments made by misguided critics, or become discouraged because the change they seek is not immediate.

The students’ activism continues today as kids and families take to the streets of Washington, D.C. and around the country, “to demand that their lives and safety become a priority and that we end gun violence and mass shootings in our schools today,” according to the event website.

We all must respect the students’ rights, even if we don’t agree with the message. That’s what makes America great.