photo by: Austin Hornbostel/Journal-World

Kids at Cordley Elementary School march around the school building Friday, Feb. 10, 2023, as part of a week of action with the national Black Lives Matter at School organization.

Kids at Cordley Elementary School made their voices heard Friday afternoon as they marched around the school’s exterior holding signs calling for equality, kindness and acceptance.

The entire school participated in a Black Lives Matter at School week — aligning with a week of action from the national Black Lives Matter at School organization — that culminated in an all-school march Friday.

Cordley third grade teacher Kalen Ledbetter, in an email to the Journal-World, said kids were encouraged to march for anything they wished, in line with themes of restorative justice and empathy, resistance, advocacy and action, diversity and globalism and inclusivity.

Ledbetter added that, to her knowledge, Cordley was the only elementary school in town recognizing this week of action, and it wasn’t an official Lawrence school district event.

photo by: Austin Hornbostel/Journal-World

Cordley Elementary students hold signs calling for equality and making one’s voice heard on Friday, Feb. 10, 2023.

photo by: Austin Hornbostel/Journal-World

Some Cordley Elementary students’ signs were simpler, like these sharing a one-word reason for their march, Friday, Feb. 10, 2023.

photo by: Austin Hornbostel/Journal-World

Some Cordley students’ signs were successful in getting parents watching the march to honk their car horns in support Friday, Feb. 10, 2023.

photo by: Austin Hornbostel/Journal-World

Some Cordley students’ signs called attention to the war in Ukraine and LGBTQ+ equality, as they marched around their elementary school Friday, Feb. 10, 2023.

photo by: Austin Hornbostel/Journal-World

Cordley Elementary students march around their school calling for equality on Friday, Feb. 10, 2023.