The National Day of Silence, in which participants seek to echo the silence faced by LGBT members and their allies by not speaking at all for the day, is this Friday, April 21.

The day originated close to home at the University of Virginia in 1996 where 500,000 students from middle schools, high schools, colleges and universities across the country participated.

Some students from the school’s Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) Club will choose to remain silent for the entire school day on Friday, unless spoken to by a staff member, and will carry a card explaining the meaning behind the silence.

GSA sponsor Victoria Milosevich asked teachers to allow students who show the card to remain silent during classes.

“If it is not possible, we ask that you understand the situation, and the courage of those involved, and to please be compassionate,” Milosevich said.