US pupils have walked out of their schools to demand action on gun violence following last month’s massacre in Florida.

More than 3000 walkouts were planned both nationally and globally, organisers said.

Students were urged to leave class at 10am local time for 17 minutes – one minute for each victim in the attack at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

From Florida to New York, pupils poured out of their schools, marching through the streets or campuses to demonstrate.

Thousands of students gathered on Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House, holding signs and cheering in support of gun control.

The students chanted, “Hey, hey, ho, ho. The NRA has got to go!” and “What do we want? Gun control! When do we want it? Now!”

Stoneman Douglas High senior David Hogg live-streamed the walkout at the school on his YouTube channel.

He said the students could not be expected to remain in class when they could campaign against gun violence instead.

“Every one of these individuals could have died that day. I could have died that day,” he said.

Some schools applauded students for taking a stand or at least tolerated the walkouts, while others threatened discipline.

The protests were organised by Empower, the youth wing of the Women’s March, which brought thousands to Washington last year.